2024-04-08 06:00:03
Researchers from Drexel University in the United States have developed a concrete capable of heating itself, making it possible to clear snow from the ground without maintenance.
Hidden near a parking lot on campus, this concrete has proven for more than three years its ability to repel snow, sleet and Freezing Rain without human intervention.
This concrete is part of an initiative to create more resilient and environmentally friendly infrastructure.environmentparticularly in the northern regions of the United States where snow removal and winter road repairs cost several billion dollars. By incorporating materials special, this concrete maintains its surface above zerothus reducing the need for snow removal and salting, and therefore, surface wear.
The secret of this concrete lies in the use of liquid paraffin at low temperatureand material to change phase which frees heat when it changes from liquid to solid when temperatures drop.
Drexel University researchers tested concrete slabs containing phase change material capable of heating to melt snow and glace.
From left to right: reference slab, slab containing lightweight aggregate treated with phase change material; slab containing microencapsulated phase change material.
Credit: Drexel University
The research compared two methods of incorporating paraffin: by treating a porous lightweight aggregate, or by directly mixing paraffin micro-capsules into concrete. The results showed effectiveness in maintaining a surface temperature between 5.5 and 12.8°C, capable of melting several centimeters of snow.
Although lightweight aggregate concrete has shown an ability to maintain its temperature longer, both approaches require improvements to optimize snow melting and thawing. Researchers continue to study the long-term effectiveness of these materials and seek to improve the system for greater durability against freezing and thawing.
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