Ever accidently dump potato chips in your concrete mix? Worry no more, you actually did a good thing!
08:56 EST, August 07, 2007
Potato chip flavoring protects concrete
Al-Otoom and colleagues note concrete — the world’s most widely used structural material — is so porous that water soaks in, corroding steel reinforcing bars and meshes that strengthen concrete roads and buildings. That, in turn, causes cracks as water expands and contracts during freeze-thaw cycles.
But the scientists discovered sodium acetate easily seeps into concrete and swells when exposed to water, blocking entry of additional moisture. Under dry conditions, the crystals shrink to their original size and allow moisture to evaporate.
The net result is “a significant reduction in water permeability (that) can be expected to increase the service life of the concrete,” the scientists said.
The study is detailed in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.
Maybe the next best insulation will be salt and vinegar potato chips! Blocks moisture and then lets the moisture evaporate.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Replies
I know where there is a spread footing with a cell phone embedded in it.
I wonder if you could hear it ring the next day before the backfill.
Getting off topic, but there are a lot of things (some people) buried in footings.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Jommy Hoffa calling?
Joe H
when you dial the number can you hear it ring underground?
hmm, wonder if it would be good for clogged arteries?
A magician is traveling down the road... then he turns into a driveway.
Edited 8/7/2007 1:04 pm ET by rez
Something along those lines is already available commercially:
http://www.xypex.com
-- J.S
Edited 8/7/2007 4:34 pm ET by JohnSprung
The interest is in what it is and what it is already in use for. Not the fact that it is another waterproof concrete ingredient.
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?