Jonathan Belkowitz

It means that the materials was very soft when it failed. While the failure was catastrophic a stronger sample will fail violently.

It means that the materials was very soft when it failed. While the failure was catastrophic a stronger sample will fail violently.

It means that the materials was very soft when it failed. While the failure was catastrophic a stronger sample will fail violently.

It means that the materials was very soft when it failed. While the failure was catastrophic a stronger sample will fail violently.

Thanks Cindy!!!!

Entrapped air can be on the order of Millimeters and Micrometers. Entrained air can be in the micrometer and nanometer range. The entrained air is made from a surfactant (vinsol resin) that is mixed onto the sand and then into the concrete mixture. I doesn't actually create air, but it takes the entrapped air and does something with it. Does this answer your questions?

Sure Cindy. The hydraulic reactions of Portland cement concrete relies on the dissolution of soluble salts (try- and di-calcium silicate) with water to form calcium hydroxide (cancer of concrete) and calcium-silicate-hydrates (the super-hero of concrete - backbone of concrete strength). The use of these salts has been perfected for many different construction applications. Unlike Portland Cement Concrete (which employs the use of very specific salts), Geopolymer Concrete employs the use of a wide variety of recycled materials to achieve "hardening (setting) of geopolymer cement (GP) through poly-condensation of potassium oligo-(sialate-siloxo) into potassium poly(sialate-siloxo) cross linked network" (Wikipedia 2014). Professor Jospeh Davidovitts, inventor of Geopolymer Chemistry and founder of the Geopolymer institute, stipulates that (http://www.geopolymer.org/science/introduction): "Geopolymers are chains or networks of mineral molecules linked with co-valent bonds. They have following basic characteristics: a) Nature of the hardened material: X-ray amorphous at ambient and medium temperatures X-ray crystalline at temperatures >500°C b) Synthesis Routes: alkaline medium (Na, K, Ca) hydroxides and alkali-silicates yielding poly(silicates) – poly(siloxo) type or poly(silico-aluminates) – poly(sialate) type acidic medium (Phosphoric acid) yielding poly(phospho-siloxo) and poly(alumino-phospho) types As an example, one of the geopolymeric precursors, MK-750 (metakaolin) with its alumoxyl group –Si-O-Al=O, reacts in both systems, alkaline and acidic. Same for siloxo-based and organo-siloxo-based geopolymeric species that also react in both alkaline and acidic medium." Through our Micoryza research we will be able to harness these scientific concepts in order take advanced of discarded materials for a geopolymer concrete. Our ultimate objective, save the world with all the concrete in it.

Sure Cindy. The hydraulic reactions of Portland cement concrete relies on the dissolution of soluble salts (try- and di-calcium silicate) with water to form calcium hydroxide (cancer of concrete) and calcium-silicate-hydrates (the super-hero of concrete - backbone of concrete strength). The use of these salts has been perfected for many different construction applications. Unlike Portland Cement Concrete (which employs the use of very specific salts), Geopolymer Concrete employs the use of a wide variety of recycled materials to achieve "hardening (setting) of geopolymer cement (GP) through poly-condensation of potassium oligo-(sialate-siloxo) into potassium poly(sialate-siloxo) cross linked network" (Wikipedia 2014). Professor Jospeh Davidovitts, inventor of Geopolymer Chemistry and founder of the Geopolymer institute, stipulates that (http://www.geopolymer.org/science/introduction): "Geopolymers are chains or networks of mineral molecules linked with co-valent bonds. They have following basic characteristics: a) Nature of the hardened material: X-ray amorphous at ambient and medium temperatures X-ray crystalline at temperatures >500°C b) Synthesis Routes: alkaline medium (Na, K, Ca) hydroxides and alkali-silicates yielding poly(silicates) – poly(siloxo) type or poly(silico-aluminates) – poly(sialate) type acidic medium (Phosphoric acid) yielding poly(phospho-siloxo) and poly(alumino-phospho) types As an example, one of the geopolymeric precursors, MK-750 (metakaolin) with its alumoxyl group –Si-O-Al=O, reacts in both systems, alkaline and acidic. Same for siloxo-based and organo-siloxo-based geopolymeric species that also react in both alkaline and acidic medium." Through our Micoryza research we will be able to harness these scientific concepts in order take advanced of discarded materials for a geopolymer concrete. Our ultimate objective, save the world with all the concrete in it.

If for some reason I didn't get you the answer to your question… The two many hydrated phases that make-up the hardened matrix of concrete are: (1) Calcium Hydroxide (CH) - The first crystal to precipitate from the water and cement combination, the CH neither bonds to itself nor anything else and in the presence of water will dissolve back into solution. The CH is known as the 'cancer' of concrete due to its tendency to leave voids in the wake of its dissolution. Also, CH being an unstable crystal is susceptible to chemical attack/degradation. (2) Calcium-Silicate-Hydrate (C-S-H) - After the CH has precipitated from the water and cement mixture (paste), a super-saturated solution is left of Calcium (Ca) and Silica (Si). When this Ca/Si ratio reaches somewhere between 0.7 and 3.2 (depending on the cement and scientist) the back-bone of concrete strength starts to gel or harden. The C-S-H is known as the superhero of concrete. Its amorphous crystal-like molecular structure creates a stable compound that provides strength as well as resistance from most chemical attack/degradation.

In honor of our Grandma and Grandpa Bitter. Thank you so much. We love you too so very much.

Thanks Sarah. Did you get our email?

Thanks David. I'll keep you in the loop if and when we win the proposal. The hardest part of all this is getting the backers. We will achieve greatness for concrete!!!