MOSCOW, October 10. The technology for producing a peat additive that improves the strength and other properties of concrete was created by scientists from IKBFU. I. Kant. According to them, the new component made from regional raw materials is aimed at use in construction 3D printing. The results were published in the journal Materials Today: Proceedings.
Various non-traditional additives to concrete, according to experts, can not only reduce its cost, but also significantly improve various functional characteristics.
A team of scientists from the Baltic Federal University. I. Kanta (IKBFU) has developed a new component for concrete, consisting of processed peat from a deposit in the Kaliningrad region. According to the creators, the additive is intended for use in specialized compositions for construction 3D printers.
“»Our thermally modified additive, obtained from low-lying peat from the Glushkovo quarry, with a content of 4–8% by weight of the mixture contributes to the formation of a dense concrete structure , increasing its strength by 15–30% and a small, about 2% increase in water-holding capacity,” said Maria Dmitrieva, professor at the Institute of High Technologies of IKBFU.
The task of the IKBFU scientific group, according to scientists, is to study various methods of peat processing for the effective use of regional varieties in local construction.
To produce the additive, peat was dried and heat-treated at temperatures ensuring the preservation of organic compounds that affect the strength of concrete. Simultaneously with firing, the peat resin was separated. The resulting additive was sifted and dispersed until the optimal particle size was achieved, the scientists said.
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«Peat contains many functional groups, including both organic and mineral compounds, which allows the use of various varieties and processing modes to create concrete with the desired characteristics. The idea of using peat in concrete was put forward by our colleagues from Tomsk State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering,” said Dmitrieva.
Currently, the research team continues to study optimal manufacturing conditions that ensure stable properties of peat additives, and also studies the effects of combining peat with other types of concrete fillers.
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IKBFU named after. I. Kanta is a participant in the state support program for Russian universities «Priority-2030» of the national project «Science and Universities».