Aeternum: a More Durable and Sustainable Alternative to Portland Cement
Even when properly designed, mixed, and placed, concrete is susceptible to chemical and physical attacks throughout its lifetime.
Sulfates in soil or groundwater react with cement hydration products, forming compounds that expand to crack concrete from within. Chlorides in ground water, de-icing salts, or marine environments penetrate concrete, initiating corrosion of embedded rebar. The expansion caused by rust formation generates internal pressure, leading to cracking, delamination, and spalling. In cold climates, freeze – thaw cycles cause additional wear. These mechanisms reduce structural integrity, increase maintenance needs, and shorten the useful life of concrete structures.
The unique chemistry of Aeternum™, whether used as the sole binder or as a supplementary cementitious material, inherently resists those attacks to prevent the problems often seen with OPC-based concrete. Minor damage does not spread, preserving structural integrity and increasing the structure’s useful lifetime.
As well as making Aeternum-based concrete far more durable than OPC-based concrete, Aeternum is also a low-carbon cement, with up to 60% lower Global Warming Potential than OPC.
