25th Anniversay Edition Now Available (Vol. 26, No. 1, April 2005)

Concrete Technology Today is a PCA newsletter for architects, concrete producers, engineers, and concrete technologists.
Articles include:

• Celebrating Twenty-five Years of CTT
• Concrete Technology Today—1980 to 2005
• New Information Products
• Understanding Concrete Floors and Moisture

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Click here for all CTT newsletters.

Portland cement concrete's versatility, durability, and economy have made it the world's most widely used construction material. Concrete Technology Today is all about concrete technology. It is intended for decisionmakers associated with design, management, and construction of projects using concrete. Its purpose 25 years ago—and still today—is to show various ways of using concrete technology to advantage and to avoid potential problems.

Many concrete events have taken place over the past 25 years and CTT has covered a lot of them. Our online timeline shows our picks of important innovations, projects, and standard developments from 1980 through 2005 with direct links to articles or more information on the topics. Click here for the interactive timeline.

If there are topics you would like discussed in future issues of CTT, please contact Beatrix Kerkhoff.

FREE Back Issues of CTT Available

Take advantage of Concrete Technology Today's 25th anniversary and get selected back issues of the CTT newsletter in quantities of 50 or more while supplies last. Just pay the shipping.

Click here to check availability and for ordering information.

Ettringite, DEF, and Concrete Durability

Petrographic reports often note ettringite or other sulfate related materials present in voids or cracks of deteriorated cast-in-place concrete structures such as retaining walls and pavements. What is ettringite and does it or the sulfate in cement contribute to expansion and disintegration of portland cement concrete?

Click here for answer.

Chemical Path of Ettringite Formation in Heat Cured Mortar and Its Relationship to Expansion: A Literature Review, RD136
The issues related to delayed ettringite formation (DEF) have received much attention since this particular concrete deterioration process was first reported. Despite many attempts to develop a fundamental understanding, the mechanism involved is still unclear and remains controversial. This literature review aims to present each aspect of DEF-related issues in a comprehensive manner to help readers develop an overview. More.

Expansions in Mortar Bars Subjected to Accelerated Curing, RD132
Evaluation of the expansion of mortar bars, cured at various elevated temperatures. None of the mortar bars expanded when cured at temperatures of 70°C and below, even after five years of storage.. Thermal analysis revealed that the majority of the sulfate in the cement was present as ettringite except for one sample, with high C₃A level, that had not expanded. More.

PCA Fellowship Report:
Role of Heat Curing in Concrete Durability—Effects of Lithium Salts and Chloride Ingress on Delayed Ettringite Formation, SN2869
Two phase research about (1) effect of high-temperature curing (65ºC to 95ºC ) on concrete durability and (2) the effects of lithium admixtures, alkali-silica reaction and freeze-thaw microcracks, and chloride ingress on the potential for DEF. More.

Canadian Version of Design and Control Now Available on CD

Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures / Dosage et Contrôle des Mélanges de Béton CD is the English and French Canadian editions of PCA’s premier publication combined on one CD. Easily searchable, it provides quick access to the book’s entire text, figures, and tables, including the extensive glossary. Referenced PCA publications are included on CD and linked. PowerPoint slide sets cover contents of all chapters and short instructional videos add a lively element to both book and slides. 2005.
CD101—$50

Click here to view all of the variations of Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures.

Save $25 on Book/CD Combination

Purchase the Canadian print version of Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Seventh Edition (EB101) or the French version, Dosage et Contrôle des Mélanges de Béton (EB101F), plus the CD, Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures / Dosage et Contrôle des Mélanges de Béton (CD101) for a special combination price.

XC101— $75 EB101 plus CD101
XC101F— $75 EB101F plus CD101

Cement Industry Conference Features Plant Tours

The 27th IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference will be held in Kansas, City, Mo., from May 15-20, 2005. The highlight of the conference is likely to be the tours of three separate plants: Ash Grove Cement’s Chanute plant, Monarch Cement’s Humboldt plant, and Lafarge’s Sugar Creek plant.

Click here to register on-line or email questions to ieeepca@flsmidth.com or call Michelle Franklin at 610-264-6950.

Building with Concrete: The Basics and Beyond
June 26-28, 2005, Kansas City, Mo

NAHB's Concrete Technologies Tour is a multi-day event featuring educational programs and behind-the-scenes tours of cement-based building materials and manufacturing facilities. Attendees have the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the country while learning the inner workings of the concrete industry as a whole. More.

For a complete listing of industry conferences, click here.