Biomass Admixture Coating for Concrete Permeability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces challenges in using waste biomass materials as admixture components in hardened materials due to issues like permeability, wicking, and thaw resistance, which are difficult to address effectively with existing treatments that are often expensive and time-consuming, resulting in inferior products.
Innovation Solution
A flowable composition comprising a cementitious component, unprocessed biomass, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and an adhesive element, which can be mixed with water to produce a hardened material with improved physical qualities, including high compressive and flexural strength, thermal insulation, and light weight, by using specific ratios and optional additives like pozzolan and twisted nylon fibers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If waste biomass material is used as an admixture component, then material availability and cost are improved, but permeability, wicking, and thaw resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an adhesive component as an intermediary substance that coats the biomass particles. This adhesive layer acts as a mediator between the biomass material and the cementitious matrix, preventing direct water contact with the biomass channels and voids that cause wicking and permeability issues, while still allowing the biomass to provide its beneficial lightweight and insulating properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameters of the biomass material by applying adhesive coating and treating it with calcium chloride and calcium carbonate. This modifies the surface energy and hydrophobicity of the biomass particles, transforming them from water-absorbing porous structures to water-resistant coated particles that maintain their structural benefits without the detrimental moisture-related properties.
2Quantity of substance
If waste biomass material is used as an admixture component, then material availability is improved, but processing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary treatment to the biomass material by pre-coating with adhesive and pre-mixing with calcium chloride and calcium carbonate before incorporating it into the concrete mixture. This preliminary action prepares the biomass particles in advance, ensuring they are ready for immediate use without requiring complex on-site processing equipment or extensive treatment facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive, readily available materials for treating the biomass: common adhesives, calcium chloride, and calcium carbonate. These are simple, cheap substances that can be easily applied and mixed, avoiding the need for expensive specialized processing equipment or complex treatment processes while still achieving the desired performance improvements.
3Quantity of substance
If waste biomass material is used as an admixture component, then material availability is improved, but product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite admixture system combining biomass particles with adhesive, calcium chloride, and calcium carbonate. This composite approach leverages the strengths of each component: the biomass provides lightweight structure and insulation, the adhesive binds particles together and to the cement matrix, calcium chloride enhances strength and reduces permeability, and calcium carbonate improves workability and surface finish. The synergistic combination achieves superior overall performance compared to using biomass alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the biomass material through adhesive coating and chemical treatment with calcium chloride and calcium carbonate. These parameter changes transform the biomass from a weak, porous material into a strengthened, water-resistant component that actively contributes to the mechanical properties and durability of the hardened concrete, turning a potential weakness into a strength.
Data Source
AI summary
An admixture includes a cementitious component, an unprocessed biomass component, calcium chloride, calcium carbonate, and an adhesive element. The admixture is suitable for mixing with water to form a flowable material that cures to produce a hardened material. A flowable material includes the admixture and water. A method of producing a flowable material includes turning on a mixer and adding an unprocessed biomass component to a drum of the mixer. The unprocessed biomass component is sprayed with an adhesive element to form a first composition. Calcium carbonate is added to the first composition in the mixing chamber, to form a second composition. The second composition is mixed. A cementitious component is added to the mixed second composition in the mixing chamber, to form a third composition, which is mixed with water and calcium chloride to produce the flowable material. The flowable material cures to form the hardened material.