Interestingly, the Romans added powdered volcanic ash to their concrete mix, which made it very much stronger. This was rediscovered only a few years ago and now modern cement includes this material.
“This was rediscovered only a few years ago and now modern cement includes this material”
Except in places without volcanoes, like NJ. If the architect wants to, they can substitue fly ash from factory chimneys.
***modern cement includes this material.***
Close. Modern cement uses fly ash from Wyoming coal in it’s concrete. We found, in our power plant fly ash, the fly ash can be mixed with water and within 30 minutes will be hot and hard.
I took a wax paper cup, filled it half full with fly ash, added water to the mixture of heavy cream, and within 20 minutes the was was melting off the cup, the mixture was already hard. Could not get the spoon out.
Our plant sells the fly ash to cement companies.
My 7 year old 3-car garage/shop was built on a monolithic slab of high strength concrete using 6% fly ash...So far no cracks!
Thanks to the supplier who recommended the ash, and told me I’d thank him later...