Imagine never having to shovel or salt your driveway again! Researchers have created a special concrete that can melt snow and ice on its own. This concrete contains a material called paraffin, which releases heat when it changes from liquid to solid. This heat can melt up to a couple of inches of snow for up to 10 hours without any extra help.
News Reading in Levels
Beginner Level: Snow and Ice No More! New Concrete Melts It All
Do you hate shoveling snow? A new concrete can melt snow and ice by itself! This concrete has a special material called paraffin. Paraffin changes from liquid to solid when it gets cold. When it changes, it releases heat that melts snow and ice.
The concrete can melt up to a couple of inches of snow for up to 10 hours. You don’t need to shovel or use salt anymore!
The researchers made three concrete slabs. Two slabs had paraffin, and one didn’t. They put the slabs outside during winter. The paraffin slabs melted snow and ice, but the other slab didn’t.
This concrete can help roads stay clear of snow and ice. It can also save money spent on plowing and salting.
Paraffin: a white, waxy solid made from petroleum, used for making candles and sealing jars.
Melt: to change from a solid to a liquid state by heating.
Shovel: a tool with a broad scoop and a long handle, used for moving loose materials like snow or coal.
Salt: a white crystalline substance used for flavoring food and for melting ice on roads.
Slab: a thick, flat piece of solid material, such as concrete or stone.
Intermediate Level: Unveiling Self-Heating Concrete for Winter Road Maintenance
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a remarkable self-heating concrete that can melt snow and ice without the need for salting or plowing. This groundbreaking material incorporates a phase-change substance called paraffin, which releases heat as it transitions from a liquid to a solid state when temperatures drop.
In a real-world test, the researchers poured three concrete slabs – two containing paraffin and one without – and exposed them to winter conditions for two years. The paraffin-infused slabs demonstrated the ability to maintain surface temperatures between 42°F and 55°F (5.6°C to 12.8°C) for up to 10 hours, even when air temperatures fell below freezing. This heat was sufficient to melt a couple of inches of snow at a rate of approximately a quarter inch per hour.
Groundbreaking: pioneering, innovative, or revolutionary.
Incorporate: to include or integrate something as part of a whole.
Transition: the process of changing from one state or condition to another.
Expose: to subject to or make vulnerable to something harmful or undesirable.
Sufficient: enough or adequate for a particular purpose.
Native Level: A Sustainable Solution for Snow-Covered Roads with Paraffin-Infused Concrete
Researchers at Drexel University have developed a novel self-heating concrete that could revolutionize winter road maintenance. By incorporating paraffin, a phase-change material, into the concrete mixture, the researchers have created a material capable of melting snow and ice without the need for salt or plowing.
In their study, the researchers tested two methods of incorporating paraffin into concrete slabs: one using porous lightweight aggregate submerged in liquid paraffin, and the other involving the direct mixing of paraffin microcapsules into the concrete. These slabs were exposed to real-world winter conditions for two years, during which they were subjected to 32 freeze-thaw events and five snowfalls of one inch or more.
Remarkably, the paraffin-infused slabs maintained surface temperatures between 42°F and 55°F (5.6°C to 12.8°C) for up to 10 hours, even when ambient temperatures dropped below freezing. This heat was sufficient to melt a couple of inches of snow at a rate of approximately a quarter inch per hour.
Phase-change: a transition from one state of matter to another, such as solid to liquid or liquid to gas.
Aggregate: a granular material, such as sand or gravel, used in construction.
Microcapsule: a tiny, spherical particle containing an active ingredient within an outer shell.
Subjected: exposed or subjected to a particular condition or experience.
Ambient: relating to the surrounding environment, especially the air or atmosphere.
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The Bottom Line
The development of this self-heating concrete is a promising step towards more sustainable and efficient winter road maintenance. By reducing the need for salting and plowing, this innovative material could save billions in costs while also preserving the integrity of road surfaces. However, further research is needed to optimize its performance and address potential environmental concerns regarding the use of non-renewable paraffin.
References
- Newsweek: US Cities Could Get Self-Heating Sidewalks to Tackle Snowstorms
- EcoWatch: Researchers Develop Self-Heating Concrete to Deice Sidewalks Without Salt
