“Roman concrete is not only not corroded by sea water, but it becomes gradually stronger over the centuries”
Using an electron microscope, X-ray micro-diffraction and a Raman spectroscope, the researchers mapped the chemical composition in different Roman architectural works. In addition to the significant quantities of Tobermorite, the presence of a porous mineral called "Phillipsite" was also identified, which continues to form through continuous exposure to sea water, reinforcing the concrete and preventing the formation of cracks.
Marie Jackson, lead author of the study, says: “Contrary to the principles of modern cement, the Romans created a "rock" cement, which thrives and benefits from chemical exchange with sea water. It is something very rare on earth. I think our research opens up a new perspective on concrete, and I believe we can be able to produce a mineral concrete that improves its resilience over time“.
i paesini di natale 3 x 1 Tre Audioguide per smartphone al prezzo di una sola.Anzi,…
The ancient romans they were incredible engineers. Monuments, roads and aqueducts built in that era have held up very well despite the weather, natural disasters and wear and tear they faced, but have you ever wondered why? How did they last so long? The answer lies in cement who used, whose chemical composition it was recently analyzed by a series of Italian, American and Chinese experts. Ready to discover its secret formula?
Deeply in love with travel, research and above all with innovation, I was fascinated by the subject and I couldn't help but share it with you. Every time I have the opportunity to visit Rome I am always amazed and I can't help but wonder how they managed to build such monuments, TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, not yesterday. Now I have the answers to my questions: the results of the analyzes conducted some time ago on the Roman port of the bay of Pozzuoli (Naples) suggested that it was the contact with the water that made the particularly solid concrete, resistant, but that's not all. The new study conducted in California, however, provides us with new elements that explain the chemical composition of the cement of the ancient Romans, thus revealing the mystery: particular chemical reactions between the mortar components made this material very resistant, comparable to that of many today's cements.
By analyzing the mineral components of the cement taken from the bay of Pozzuoli, the team of international researchers was able to discover the secret formula of the composition of ancient Roman cement: how did they prepare it in those days? The main ingredients of the mortar in question are the pozzolan (a mixture of volcanic ash and silt) and the lime, in which fragments of tuff, bricks and shards were inserted to form the cementitious, which is one of the first examples of concrete in history. By replicating the particular ancient recipe, the scholars left this concrete to harden for 180 days and discovered that, as they hardened, the materials contained in the mixture created a very hard crystal which prevented the cracks from widening. And this is how the ancient Romans managed to build particularly resistant monuments.
For comparison, the portland cement (the one most commonly used today) is not combined with pozzolana and does not bind well compared to the ecological concrete of the ancient Romans, on the contrary it tends to wear out rapidly if in contact with sea water. Furthermore, its construction produces a considerable amount of carbon dioxide, so it does not help the environment at all.
I suppose they already had an incredible knowledge of the seismic vulnerability of reinforced concrete, given the remarkable resistance of the monuments built, but I also find it particularly interesting that the composition of the Roman cement makes it an ecological cement. Why? Easy: in addition to being more resistant than Portland cement, the concrete of the ancient Romans is also more sustainable! In fact, the Romans used much less lime but also a process that consumed much less fuel. Therefore, adopting the materials and production techniques of two thousand years ago could revolutionize today's building industry with a more robust, resistant concrete and with lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Electron microscope image of a section
Researchers at the University of Utah have tried to solve this fascinating enigma of the time of the Caesars, which could lead today's chemical technology to appropriate very ancient techniques, improvements compared to the current ones. The results of the research were published on the site GeoScienceWorld), and have identified the secret of the strength of Roman cement in two specific components: the lime and volcanic ash, which contained a rare mineral known as "Aluminium Tobermorite". When exposed to seawater, the substance crystallizes into lime, and strengthens the surrounding material.
The discovery could therefore prove to be particularly valuable for the development of a future ecological cement that can pollute less and, hopefully, last even longer than today's. That the ancient Roman cement composition may revolutionize modern architecture?
The first practical application that could benefit from the study of the exceptional Roman concrete is the protective barrier of the Swansea lagoon in Wales.
via Admiral Millo 9 .
Alberobello, Bari.
📞 +39 339 5856822
English 
Italian 
Spanish