Scientists at the South Russian State Polytechnic University have developed a technology for creating environmentally friendly materials for road and low-rise construction in the Arctic.
These materials are derived from waste generated by the combustion processes in thermal power plants. The new materials are durable, frost-resistant, and suitable for thermal insulation of foundations, basements, underground pipelines, and utility networks. The scientists will continue to work on further improving these materials.
One of the primary challenges of construction in the Arctic is the soil characteristics: water in the soil expands after freezing, causing roads to become uneven, akin to a "washboard."
The university team has been working on this project for the past 2.5 years. Their objective was to create eco-geopolymer, temperature-curable materials based on waste from the combustion of thermal power plants in Russia's Arctic zone. This development aims to provide road-building materials suitable for extremely low-temperature conditions.
Additionally, the technology for creating such materials can be applied to the insulation of foundations, basements, underground pipelines, engineering networks, and ice arenas. The university highlights that these materials boast durability, non-flammability, and frost resistance; however, they do require high temperatures for manufacturing.
University specialists have proposed a method for producing materials with a minimal carbon footprint, which involves hardening and gaining strength through hydrate foaming rather than traditional firing. This manufacturing process also addresses the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
Work on enhancing the materials will continue at an international level in collaboration with scientists from Indore University of Technology in India.
In the future, there are plans to utilize waste not only from private thermal power plants, as the technology can be scaled and applied to any thermal power station.
Source: Arctic Century
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