Trade Journals for the Concrete Industry

The requirements for the sustainability and performance of concretes are continuously increasing. Both properties can be improved through optimisation of the concrete mixing process. The following article demonstrates that the application of Power Ultrasound (PUS) during the mixing of the concrete – the Sonocrete technology described here – brings about significant increases in the flowabilities and early compressive strengths for a practically relevant concrete recipe. It was thereby possible to save at least 30% superplasticiser, to use a cement of a lower strength class with the same or better strength development or alternatively to shorten or completely replace the heat treatment. Further investigations into durability show that the carbonation behaviour and freeze/thaw resistance are not negatively affected by an ultrasound-assisted mixing process.