According to foreign media reports, concrete is made of a mixture of cement, aggregates (such as gravel) and water. If the mixture dries too quickly, cracks will form in the mixture when cured. But now scientists have determined that using soot balls can prevent this from happening.

Generally, to ensure that the poured concrete does not dry too quickly, the contractor takes measures such as covering the concrete with a film or spraying it with water.

However, accomplishing these things can be cumbersome, which is why some research groups have developed lightweight porous aggregates that initially absorb water and then slowly release it into the concrete matrix. The idea is that by using these materials, concrete will dry at a more controlled uniform rate without the need for covering or spraying.

Researchers at Drexel University in the United States are looking for a cheaper and richer form of such porous aggregates, and they are turning to "fly ash" waste generated when coal is burned in power plants. A research team led by Associate Professor Yaghoob Farnam combines fly ash with binding chemicals to form tiny spheres, and then bakes these spheres at a temperature of 1160ºC for several minutes.

The resulting material is called SPoRA and represents "spherical porous reactive aggregates". Not only is it cheap and easy to manufacture, it can absorb almost half the weight of water-which is much better than some commercially available aggregates. As the water dries, it is gradually dispersed from the spheres into the concrete matrix, ensuring that no cracks form.

Farnam said, "Our proposed solution involves recycling this waste (soot) into porous lightweight aggregates with excellent properties, which can cost less than current natural and synthetic options. This material and process will not only The concrete industry will benefit by improving the quality of concrete products, and it will also help exclude coal ash from landfills. "

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