This is fascinating! But also it made me think of the workers (most of them enslaved) having to mix hot quicklime, ash, and water to make the concrete. Did they have any means of protecting themselves? What’s the human cost of Rome’s miraculous concrete and grand architecture?
Reposted from
Ada Palmer
Roman concrete's 2,000-year durability secret finally decoded
The exceptional strength comes from 'hot mixing' quicklime directly with volcanic ash at high temperatures. This creates distinctive lime clasts that grant remarkable self-healing properties. buff.ly/3EQOcxi
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The exceptional strength comes from 'hot mixing' quicklime directly with volcanic ash at high temperatures. This creates distinctive lime clasts that grant remarkable self-healing properties. buff.ly/3EQOcxi
#ShareGoodNewsToo
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