"The Secret to Ancient Roman Concrete's Longevity Revealed"
A team of researchers led by MIT has discovered that ancient Roman concrete, known for its durability, was likely made using a technique called "hot mixing" that involved combining quicklime directly with pozzolana and water at high temperatures. This method not only produced high-temperature-associated compounds that enhanced the concrete's strength, but also gave it remarkable self-healing abilities. The presence of lime clasts in the concrete allowed cracks to be filled with calcite, preventing further damage. The team is now working on commercializing this more durable and environmentally friendly concrete as an alternative to current formulations.