Magnesian cements – Fundamental for sustainability in the built environment

Title: Magnesian cements – Fundamental for sustainability in the built environment
Author(s): A John W Harrison
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Symposium on Concrete Science and Engineering: A Tribute to Arnon Bentur
Editor(s): J. Weiss, K. Kovler, J. Marchand, and S. Mindess
Print-ISBN: None
e-ISBN: 2912143926
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2004
Nb references: 81
Language: English

Abstract: The relationship between the biosphere (the earth an all natural things in it) and technosphere (our material world) is fundamentally affected by the way we make and use materials as they control how long they remain in the technosphere and their shape and molecular form on exit back to the biosphere. The built environment including buildings and infrastructure accounts for some 70% of all materials flows in the global economy. It is our footprint on earth. As such it represents an enormous opportunity for sustainability. Of all building materials concrete, routinely made of sand cement and gravels, is the most ubiquitous. Over six cubic kilometres are poured a year. There is tremendous scope to add strength and improve other properties through the addition of other substances including wastes, many of which would add tensile strength, insulating capacity or reduce weight. Materials such as the new magnesian tec, eco and enviro-cements will have an important role in the development of these new high performance composite materials of the future as they not only absorb carbon dioxide in bricks, blocks, pavers, mortars and porous pavement, but also improve the properties of concrete, allow the incorporation of a wider range of materials including wastes, and solve workability, durability and performance, shrinkage and cracking problems.

Online publication: 2004-03-25
Classification: Freeze-Thaw
Publication type : full_text
Public price (Euros): 0.00
doi: 10.1617/2912143926.054