Veramallay S., Horan T.
Hycrete, Inc., US
Keywords: concrete, corrosion, green building, waterproofing
Hycrete is a proven admixture for concrete that makes the concrete waterproof and protects the steel reinforcement from corrosion. The material itself is a nanotechnology and is Cradle-to-Cradle certified as an environmentally intelligent product. Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world, but has one major flaw—it’s porous and absorbs water like a sponge (capillary absorption). Water and dissolved salts readily enter the concrete and corrode the steel reinforcement. The Hycrete material is unique because it reacts with calcium in the concrete and shuts down capillary absorption. Another end of the molecule bonds to polar particles, such as iron in the steel reinforcement and creates a monomolecular layer of protection. Hycrete is greening an area commonly overlooked in sustainable construction. Conventional waterproofing methods typically involve attaching a protective membrane/coating to the concrete. However, these membranes are often asphaltic-based and applied using high VOC adhesives, which can cause the concrete itself to lose its recyclability and sustainable characteristics. Hycrete offers membrane-free construction with real-time performance. Besides providing a superior concrete waterproofing system, the use of Hycrete significantly accelerates construction by eliminating an entire time-consuming step and does so in a more economical and environmental fashion.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: Technical Proceedings of the 2008 Clean Technology Conference and Trade Show
Published: June 1, 2008
Pages: 182 - 184
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Energy & Sustainability
Topics: Materials for Sustainable Building, Sustainable Materials
ISBN: 1-4200-8502-0