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Global Cement exhibits at the 13th TCMB International Technical Seminar and Exhibition in Antalya 08 October 2015
Turkey: Global Cement Magazine is exhibiting at the 13th TCMB International Technical Seminar and Exhibition at the Gloria Golf Resort Hotel in Antalya, Turkey on 7-10 October 2015. Around 510 delegates looking to learn about the latest technical innovations and new products and services will visit the event, which is sponsored by ABB Group.
Picture: Fatzunnahar Ngopil of Fosroc, Asia, visits the Global Cement stand to talk with Paul Brown, Commercial Director of Global Cement.
Cement for the long term
Written by David Perilli, Global Cement
07 October 2015
We report on development from Japan this week with the creation of a low-alkali cement for use at nuclear waste sites. Professor Katsuyoshi Kondo, Joining and Welding Research Institute at Osaka University, and Nippon Steel & Sumikin Cement Co have prepared a process that mixes silica dioxide extracted from rice chaff with cement.
As press reports explain, the team has developed technology to extract highly purified silica with numerous holes measuring 5 – 7nm in diameter by washing rice chaff with organic acid and burning it. The surface area of the silica extracted from rice chaff is 50,000 - 90,000 times larger than that contained in existing cements, enhancing the reaction between silica and calcium hydroxide and thus lowering the alkaline level.
The stated application for this new research is for underground nuclear waste disposal sites. At these locations extremely high durability is required for long periods of time, potentially for tens of thousands of years.
Normally the concern with alkali-silica reactivity is between alkali in the cement and a sensitive aggregate over a shorter time period. Under high moisture and high alkali content the resulting concrete can crack leading to reduced-performance. However, the issue with nuclear waste storage is that it has to be stored underground and for long periods of time. This means that the cement can potentially react with groundwater producing calcium hydroxide making the groundwater alkaline. This can then react with aggregates in the clay and bedrock at the storage site. Clearly this is undesirable for a long-term storage site of hazardous materials.
In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, this kind of development will be of high interest in Japan. It will also have applications around the world wherever radioactive waste sites are built.
One example of the demanding construction conditions facing builders in these environments is the original sarcophagus used to encase the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant reactor in 1986. Building it used more than 7,000t of steel and 410,000m3 of concrete. Erected in a hurry under horrendous conditions, the container was never sealed properly and the structure was only given a design lifespan of 20 to 30 years. Currently a replacement, New Safe Confinement, is being built at a projected cost of Euro2bn for completion in 2017. The structure will be up to 100m tall and 165m long with a lifetime of at least 100 years.
One of the issues raised in the documentary film 'Into Eternity' is what exactly should one daub on the entrance to a long-term waste dump? Given that the Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository in Finland is planning to stay sealed for 100,000 years, how should its planners communicate to people, who potentially rediscover it in the future, that they should stay away? One suggestion quoted here is to put Edvard Munch's The Scream on the door. However, we have difficulty today in reading and interpreting Ancient Egyptian writing and art from 5000 years ago. What this means for any of our descendants unlucky enough to stumble upon a buried nuclear waste site is anyone's guess. At the very least though using a low-alkali cement that will last as long as possible is a good start.
PPC gains naming rights for Newlands Cricket Ground 07 October 2015
South Africa: Cement producer PPC has been named as the new naming sponsor for the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Western Province. "We want to cement this relationship," said PPC chief executive Darryll Castle on 6 October 2015 at the stadium.
Although an obvious play on words, Castle could not contain his excitement as it was made official that the ground will now be known as 'PPC Newlands.' "We're exceptionally proud to be creating a new moment in history for these two champion brands and are looking forward to adding real value to the sport, the community and, ultimately, the country through this new legacy partnership with the Western Province Cricket Association," he added.
The first international action at the PPC Newlands stadium will see South Africa take on England in the New Year's Test against England in January 2016.
Cement production creeps up in Poland 07 October 2015
Poland: Cement production in Poland increased by 1.3% year-on-year to to 1.58Mt in September 2015, while sales edged up by 0.1% to 1.66Mt, according to Poland's Cement Producer Association. In the first nine months of 2015, production grew by 1.4% year-on-year to 11.9Mt and sales were up by 1.8% to 12.2Mt.
Cementos Andino counts cost of Haitian overland import ban 07 October 2015
Dominican Republic/Haiti: Cementos Andino, based in the Dominican Republic, has reported that it will register extra costs of US$44,189/month due to a Haitian ban on cement entering the country overland. Nelson Bello, president of Cementos Andino, explained that maritime transport will increase costs, due to unloading and handling services at ports, among other activities.
Cementos Andino exported 458,818t of cement between 2006 and August 2015, generating US$48.4m. Panama and Haiti were the main destinations.