Eco-Cement
Eco-Cements have relatively high proportions of magnesia[1] which in permeable materials carbonates adding strength and durability. Eco-Cement formulations are generally used for bricks, blocks, pavers, permeable pavements and other permeable cement based products.
Eco-Cements are currently made from magnesia manufactured in a kiln and they reabsorbs chemical releases. In the longer term we plan to make them using the magnesium in sea water and brines without releases resulting in a net sequestration (See Gaiaengineering).
The Eco-Cement breakthrough has attracted much publicity around the world for it's carbon dioxide sequestration potential. Mimicking nature Eco-Cement concretes absorb large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere in order to harden into materials used in the built environment.
As Eco-Cements are also chemically benign large amounts of various wastes can be incorporated for their physical property rather than chemical composition adding values such as lighter weight or greater insulating ability.
Recognising that urban construction must be sustainable if we are to survive the future, leading scientists and science organisations around the world have endorsed the Eco-Cement technology and have described it as a "benchmark in materials science" and as having "enormous medium and long term potential". Many of these appraisals can be downloaded from the documentation section of this web site.
The TecEco Eco-Cement technology is a vitally important technological breakthrough because it offers partial solutions for global warming, climate change, waste and cost effective housing for the masses. The TecEco Eco-Cement technology offers a way for underdeveloped countries (and recalcitrant developed countries) to ratify the Kyoto protocol with positive social and economic outcomes and brings the focus of action to the cities which have the largest environmental footprint and where more people can be involved in positive action.
The key advantages of Eco-Cement are:
- Potentially lower cost
- Carbon sequestration and waste utilisation on a massive scale
- No expensive additives required
- More forgiving of poor workmanship
- Improved durability and performance
- Greater resistance to sulphate and chloride
- Reduced corrosion of steel and other reinforcing
- Reduced delayed reactions
- Delayed hydration of dead burned lime and other minerals
- Reduced alkali aggregate and delayed ettringite reactions
- Higher tolerance of a wider range of aggregate material
- Greater freeze-thaw resistance
- Improved rheology
- Greater workability
- Reduced dimensional change including shrinkage
- Reduced cracking, improved crack control
- Better bonding (e.g. to brick and tiles)
- Greater fire resistance
- Reduced efflorescence
- Excellent performance for waste utilisation and immobilisation
More information on the Tec-Cement technology can be found in our documentation section.
More Information
More information on the Eco-Cement technology can be found in our technical section under TecEco Cements, documentation section and under Eco-Cement in our Definitions section. Further information in relation to sustainability can be found under that section in our main menu.
Availability
Eco-Cements are now available for non structural work on an experimental basis. For larger orders please contact TecEco. For samples, small orders, or research supplies please go to Purchasing TecEco Products.
Product Safety Data
Downloadable under documentation/products.
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[1] Reactive magnesia is also variously known as caustic calcined magnesia, caustic magnesia or CCM. The temperature of firing has a greater influence on reactivity than grind size as excess energy goes into lattice energy.
Technical information about reactive magnesia is available in the technical area of our web site.