Engineers and architects have choices of the material and products they use to design projects – when it comes to a building frame the choice is typically between concrete, steel and wood; for paving applications the choice is generally between concrete and asphalt. Material choice depends on several factors, including first cost, life cycle cost and performance or a specific application. Due to growing interest in sustainable development engineers and architects are motivated more than ever before to choose materials that are more sustainable.
Green Concrete is one such sustainable material but it will cause extreme abrasive action once the physics of cutting begins. The slurry generated by green concrete is equally as abrasive and will require special undercutting protection for the steel core of the diamond blade. Typically, cutting control joints of highways, industrial floorings, driveways and similar projects is performed during this state. Gila's diamond blades are perfect for cutting green concrete because they are designed for abrasive materials with maximum performance and long life. The narrow U-Slot gullet design allows for quick and efficient debris removal to provide faster cutting action. This diamond blade feature tough wear-resistant bonds and drop segments provide under-cut protection for use with abrasive materials.
Green Concrete is a term given to a concrete that has had extra steps taken in the mix design and placement to insure a sustainable structure and a long life cycle with a low maintenance surface.
The first step in creating Green Concrete is to waterproof it. This stabilizes the concrete to inhibit the internal chemistry from reacting with the atmosphere, which causes surface degradation problems. Waterproofing concrete will prevent contaminants to enter the matrix and form corrosion cells on the reinforcing steel. Rust on steel occurs when the pH of the concrete drops below 11.5 thus destroying the protective layer on the steel. Stabilized concrete reduces the moisture and oxygen content, which are two of the four ingredients that facilitate corrosion.
