A new type of self-heating concrete is being studied in the United States. — AFP Relaxnews
Researchers at Drexel University in the US are working on a new form of self-heating concrete capable of automatically melting snow and ice when temperatures are particularly low. The idea is to one day be able to build roads with this concrete to reduce the need for salting and snow removal.
This research is part of a drive to create greener, more resilient infrastructure. To achieve this, researchers have incorporated micro-capsules of phase-change materials, notably kerosene, into the conventional composition of concrete. These materials are capable of changing their physical state according to the temperature to which they are exposed. As such, they store and release heat, keeping the surface at a positive temperature sufficient to prevent it from freezing.
