this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2024
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[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Roman concrete would cure by reacting with the carbon dioxide in the air, fixing it into the concrete. It doesn't sound like that's how this concrete works, but I wonder if a methodology like that would be carbon negative.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

For obvious reasons, I imagine that would only react on the surface level, and I'm willing to bet the CO2 generated in mining the materials, creating the concrete, and transporting the concrete outweigh some surface-level reactions with CO2.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 3 months ago

Yeah you need to pour it differently, in thin layers. I'm guessing that extra time might make it too expensive?

[–] EarthShipTechIntern@lemm.ee 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Roman methods are not how modern concrete is produced. As the article mentions, concrete production involves heating massive amounts, spewing loads of carbon dioxide & other toxins into the atmosphere.

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

That's why I was proposing using the older method that would sequester CO2 instead of emitting it.

[–] EarthShipTechIntern@lemm.ee 2 points 3 months ago

I dig it!

Get back to the start with the stuff. Continue to study other ways utilize it in recycling/upcycling, but start with the carbon negative old ways at the core.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 0 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Isn’t the formula for Roman concrete unknown? I’m wondering how they can tell it is carbon negative

[–] hamsterkill@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Isn’t the formula for Roman concrete unknown?

Yes, though a lot of research has been done to figure out its most important properties. A secret of its durability was just figured out last year. https://news.mit.edu/2023/roman-concrete-durability-lime-casts-0106

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

Interesting, thanks for sharing