Recently, as accidents caused by heavy snow have increased rapidly, concerns about black ice are growing. Accordingly, the construction industry is working to come up with a solution to prevent such an accident.
DL E&C announced on the 13th that it is conducting research on concrete that melts black ice. Black ice is a phenomenon in which melted snow on the road freezes into thin ice. It is called an assassin on the road because it is difficult to check the ice with the naked eye. This study focused on preventing accidents caused by black ice through concrete that generates heat by electricity.
Heat-generating concrete developed by DL E&C. Even in the weather of -15 degrees below zero, the temperature is maintained above 5 degrees. (Photo = DL E&C)
The concrete being developed by DL E&C is characterized by its ability to control the temperature. It used carbon nanotubes, a high-tech material through which electric current flows. DL E&C explained, “The key to this study is how to effectively generate heat by mixing a tube-shaped carbon material made of small particles into concrete.”
In addition, the goal of this study is to secure economic feasibility with low power consumption. DL E&C revealed that it has verified the ability to heat up to 60 degrees with less power than the mobile phone charging current. According to DL E&C, the roads paved with heating concrete melted the frozen snow while maintaining the image of 5 degrees or more even in the weather of -15 degrees below zero. An official from DL E&C said, “We are currently conducting R&D with the goal of gaining price competitiveness at a level that is cheaper than the existing heating wire method and more expensive than spraying calcium chloride.”
DL E&C plans to secure commercially viable quality and constructability through further research and development of heat-generating concrete.
This research is conducted through a R&D performance sharing system jointly developed by DL E&C, JO, and Hyun-I. As part of the ESG (Environmental, Social Responsibility, Governance) management policy, DL E&C plans to continue to expand joint R&D and support activities to strengthen the competitiveness of suppliers.
Kim Dong-jin, a lead researcher at DL E&C, said, “When the development of low-power heat-generating concrete is completed, it will be of great help in preventing traffic accidents in winter.” The possibility is open.”