Magnesium Cement

[PBroad]

Can Anyone supply info on Eco-cement aka Magnesium Cement?

I believe that this is available in Australia, but I would prefer North American Suppliers, especially manufacturers.

I am looking for any process to seperate MgO from Dolomite?

And also info on the seqesting ability of eco-cement to reduce greenhouse gas.

 

[concretemasonry]

I would suggest contacting the major cement suppliers to see what is available in the U.S. It may have to be imported.

There are virtually no U.S. cement companies, but only foreign owned cement plants in the U.S. They now may have access to that type of cement, since cement is now more international and not strictly related to market area as it was 10 or 15 years ago.

Dick

 

[civilperson]

Ashgrove Cement is US owned and operated. Plants in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, etc. Buy American for best price and best quality!

 

[concretemasonry]

Ashgrove is one of those in the American-owned minority. I am sure their quality is equal to the foriegn owned plants. It is unfortunate that the American investors did not thave the confidence in the industry that the Europeans have. I guess that comes with the historic high useage of cement per capita in Europe compared to the U.S. use.

Since the recent changes in the ownership of the industry, there has been tremendous investment in updating the old technology and quality control systems and laboratories.

Eco-cement is a new wrinkle on the old magnesium cement that was not durable. The Eco-cement supposedly absorbs CO2 based on the exposed area. Since it requires magnesium carbonate instead of calcium carbonate, may not be possible to be produced in current facilities unless both materials are locally available. Because of this, the current availability may be limited.

Changes in the manufacturing processes and permitting make changes very slow to occur even if the raw materials are available and there is a market.

Dick

 

[Grubbyky]

Civilperson,

I work for a concrete producing division of a materials company. We really can't choose our producer for most work. Specifications for transportation projects here still call for "Dacotah" brand (used to be a state-owned plant, now owned by Grupo Cemento Chihuahua (sp?)). When you have to have that in your cement silo, you have to use it in all of the concrete you sell.

Can't complain too much about the Mexicans buying the plant, the thing wouldn't be producing anything if they hadn't put the money into improvements that the state had been neglecting.

 

[rconner]

This is probably a stupid question, but doesn't basically any common Portland cement mortar or concrete also sort of "absorb" at least some CO2 on any newly "exposed area" (in the phenomena of "carbonation" -- I gather this stuff must somehow absorb more?) [Like PBroad I guess I'm likewise some intrigued by the claim/mechanism talked about here.]

 

[concretemasonry]

rconner -

You are right about normal concrete made with Portland cement absorbing CO2. The carbonation process occurs when you have available CO2, some moisture and a reasonable temperature, since it is a chemical reaction. The combination of the CO2 with the free cement materials(mainly CaO) does contibute to strength is a small way.

The process is slow since the CO2 must be absorbed into the depths of the concrete. The stronger and more dense the concrete, the longer this "novelty" process continues.

The claim to fame for the new Magnesium cement is that it occurs faster.

In any case, it is any extremely long term process that uses some CO2.

Dick

 

[civilperson]

The Populists and socialists of South Dakota are spinning in their grave! At one time the State of So. DaK. had it's own airline, grain elevators, cement production, highway construction, etc. Too bad they were found guilty of restraint of trade for saving all the cement for the State od South Dakota.