Saturday 12th May 2018
Today started with sunshine which is amazing for Belfast…….
That’s right I’m in the lab on a Saturday (dedication of a PhD student).
So today, I started more experiments were done using aluminum powder (1 + 2%) and added some powder form of the SAP.
The aluminium powder this time didn’t make the samples rise a quickly as the previous tests, I’m not sure if the fact that I used different sand this time or the fact that last time I hydrated the aluminium powder before.
Either way the samples didn’t rise as quickly, I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow to see the results.
The SAP powder is a super fine dust that was added to the mix and dry mixed, I then added the water and watched the expanding of the powder.
It did make the mix dry but if it allows for moisture pockets to be spread throughout the concrete, it could make a moisture retention concrete( well that the hope anyway)
I also demould some of the previous mixes ;
The large aggregate samples without any additives demoulded fine but I think too much paste was added to the mix as the wholes seem to be getting clogged.
More research needs to be done into porous concrete
SAP – The samples were too wet to be completely demould but I started and when this was happening the SAP balls were , falling out of the mix which made me come up with another idea which I will explain later.
Open –celled structure created.
Before demoulded – The balls all fell out
The fish balls started to degrade but couldn’t be demoulded as it was too late will check again tomorrow.
The diagram is trying to illustrate the idea of have a SAP core that is caged into a stainless steel frame. Then a porous concrete is added, to the outside to allow roots to grow through to the SAP core.
There could also be some kind of system to allow for refill or adding extra nutrients to SAP.
P.s with regards to the sponge had to go and a blender as apparently using your housemates isn't acceptable.....................Tomorrow will be the day will upload a video
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