Branscome Concrete, Essroc Cement find economy in radiation-ready, $30K/yd. mix

Sources: CP staff; Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, Newport News, Va.

Williamsburg, Va.-based Branscome Concrete and Essroc Cement Corp. have formulated high performance concretes poised to advance radiation shielding practice through vertical and horizontal members of optimized cross section and significantly lower weight than existing strategies.

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Internal materials sourcing backs LEED Gold for Lafarge NA headquarters

Sources: Lafarge North America, Chicago; CP staff

Lafarge North America has attained LEED for Commercial Interiors Gold certification at its recently occupied Chicago headquarters, the rating partly reflecting specification of internally procured product: reception area backdrop of Elburn, Ill.-quarried limestone, plus tile and countertops of Ductal ultra-high performance concrete.

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Technology shears cost of grinding fly ash to match silica fume performance

Sources: CP staff; IgniteIP, New York

By Don Marsh

A New York investor announced at World of Concrete (January 18–21, Las Vegas) technology economizing the grinding of fly ash, or secondary grinding of portland cement, to 3- or 1-micron median particle sizes. With $30–75/ton processing plus $20–100/ton raw feed (fly ash, Type I/II portland cement) costs, the technology can yield premium binding agents whose performance properties in concrete and grouts match those of ultra-fine high-reactivity metakaolin or silica fume—typically commanding $300–$700/ton.

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