Concrete has been used as a building material for ages, but that doesn’t mean engineers and chemists around the world aren’t looking to improve an already great product. The most commonly used construction material in the world has many different varieties and subsects. Today we’ll explore some new additions to the concrete family that you can expect to see in widespread use in years to come. To learn about more innovations in the industry, visit our blog. 

  • Self-healing concrete. No matter how carefully concrete is mixed, designed or poured, it is prone to cracking. However, scientists are working to design a concrete built with bacteria. When this bacteria combines with other secretions, it creates a glue-like substance, leading to self-healing concrete. To read more about this variety, visit our website here. 
  • 3D-printed concrete. While this is still fairly new, scientists are seeing untapped potential in creating concrete with 3D printing. This method would allow for structures to be erected quickly and with new and interesting shapes. Already we’ve seen a backyard castle and a house built in 24 hours with this method. 3D-printed concrete could also provide a solution to housing homeless communities. 
  • Eco-friendly concrete. We’re beginning to see more concrete and cement built with recycled building materials, which will cut down on waste. However, now scientists are experimenting with creating concrete by using magnesium sulfate, which requires much less heating to be made. This variety actually absorbs carbon dioxide as it hardens instead of releasing it. 
  • Martian concrete. Though this sounds like science fiction, it’s actually real! As scientists look to ways to sustain human life on Mars, they’ve created a version of concrete that can be made with materials found there, turning to sulfur to be used in place of water. It’s also twice the strength of traditional concrete and could withstand meteorite impacts. 

Tolley Concrete will keep you updated on all the latest concrete innovations to come. To chat with us about new materials we can use in your next project, visit our website for a free quote.