OT: More on Roman Cement - Why It Lasts

Of course, average Logosians already know, the magic of the Roman Empire was the cement. Sure, 'roads', armies, Senate vs Caesars, and so on. But the cement was the key. "All roads lead to ... the cement plant."

Roman cement lasted, whereas modern cement cracks. It's why selling your house, the inspector measures the width of your foundation cracks (well, pretty often).

So. If you have a chemistry degree:

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add1602

And if you don't, and aren't averse to CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/style/article/roman-concrete-mystery-ingredient-scn/index.html

As it turns out, the trick is in using 'lime clasts', which appear to be sloppy mixing, but act to 'heal' cracks. That, and how much heat you use.

I'd like to point to roman cement articles in Logos, but I don't see any, other than they used 'Roman cement' ... yes, Herod's architects too.

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Comments

Simon’s Brother

When I searched Facebook for cement, as opposed to Roman cement, it came up with the following result. Maybe the factbook compilers done have a chemistry degree but they might be on to something, those lime clasts are the clingy bits in the cement.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1242676#Comment_1242676

[Y]

Dale E Heath

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1242683#Comment_1242683

MIT News

https://news.mit.edu/2023/roman-concrete-durability-lime-casts-0106?utm_source=pocket-newtab

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1243323#Comment_1243323

Good catch!

Although, reading the MIT article, I fear what may happen next. In the valley below us, there's a big cement plant (Pennsylvanian limestone, I think). It built the big dams that are now missing their water (Hoover, Glen Canyon).

But as we tool along old cement interstates (bumpity-bumpity-bump), the highway department pulls up the old cement pieces with their front-loaders. If better cement, oh my!

I didn't know the Roman Pantheon was cement.

Lew Worthington

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1243335#Comment_1243335

I don't know that the Clement of Rome mentions much about Roman Rhodes.

(I've been a father so long that dad jokes are neither humorous nor resistible.)

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1243343#Comment_1243343

I've been a father so long that dad jokes are neither humorous nor resistible.

Probably know the importance of the coffee holder, with new rockers, eh? Joking. My dad never tired of his age 39.

R. Mansfield

And to think that my front porch, which is less than two years old, already has cracks in it!