Ippei Maruyama, Nagoya University, and Chubu Electric Power Co.
A rare mineral that has allowed Roman concrete marine barriers to survive for more than 2,000 years has been found in the thick concrete walls of a decommissioned nuclear power plant in Japan. The formation of aluminous tobermorite increased the strength of the walls more than three times their design strength, Nagoya University researchers and colleagues report in the journal
Materials and Design. The finding could help scientists develop stronger and more eco-friendly concrete.
“We found that cement hydrates and rock-forming minerals reacted in a way similar to what happens in Roman concrete, significantly increasing the strength of the nuclear plant walls,” says Nagoya University environmental engineer Ippei Maruyama.
Nagoya University scientists find a rare mineral in nuclear power plant walls, significantly improving their strength following years of full operation.
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