A team of scientists led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology understood the reason for the durability of concrete, which the ancient Romans used in construction. Research published magazine Science Advances.
According to the researchers, the durability of the concrete was provided by “hot mixing”. This is a process in which all concrete is heated to high temperatures. As a result of chemical reactions, chemicals are formed due to the high temperature of the joint, which would not otherwise occur.
This process allows the concrete to heal itself. The fact is that during the hot mixing process, the lime particles form a brittle nanoparticle architecture, which is easily cracked and creates a reactive source of calcium. When calcium is mixed with water, it turns into a solution that quickly fills the cracks that appear. Previously, scientists believed that the lime chips were the result of poor mixing of the mixture.