Solutions

Comus Sustainable Pozzolan Products

1. Less Expensive to Manufacture -Extensive savings are achieved in two ways: activation of the pozzolan is achieved without the need to burn fossil fuels to super-heat the material in a kiln, and the grinding mills used to activate the pozzolan are located close by the mine. 

2. Autogenous Healing –Pozzolan Portland Concrete has the unique ability to heal or ‘re-cement’ cracks within the concrete. This quality is the result of the ongoing pozzolonic reaction within the cement gel matrix.

3. Reduced Permeability –Pozzolan Portland Concrete is nearly impervious to water penetration.  Less water penetration equals superior encapsulation of toxins and less leaching. 

4. Reduces Micro-cracking –Pozzolan Portland Concrete naturally regulates the expansion and contraction of fresh concrete by lessening the heat of hydration.  When expansion and contraction are lessened, micro-cracking is naturally lessened too without the use of added water. 

5. Increases Compressive Strength –Pozzolan Portland Concrete is initially slower to cure than Ordinary Portland Cement.   By 21 days, the PPC exceeds the OPC in compressive strength by at least 15%.  In the early stages, the curing rate of PPC can be regulated by the use of accelerants in the design mixture. 

6. Curing Time.  See number 5. 

7. Resistance to sulfate attack.  Pozzolan Portland Concrete reduces sulfate attacks from both internal and external factors.   PPC reduces the heat of hydration thereby mitigating the factors that cause sulfate attack from within the concrete.  Because PPC is far less permeable, any sulfate attack from groundwater or seawater is diminished.

8. Reduces alkali-aggregate reaction.  Pozzolan Portland Concrete is manufactured by milling the natural pozzolan in very fine particles.  By fine-grinding the pozzolan, extensive numbers of reactive particles are exposed by hydration to calcium hydroxide.   In PPC, alkali is trapped within the gel paste minimalizing the alkali-aggregate reaction.  

9. Protects rebar from corrosion.  Pozzolan Portland Concrete is far more impermeable.  With less / no water infiltration due to less capillary pores, steel rebar is protected from the inherent deterioration of iron with H²O and the dangerous expansion it creates.  

10. Increases Abrasion Resistance.  The gel matrix of Portland Pozzolan Concrete is denser and stronger than OPC.   This makes the compressive strength +15% greater than OPC after 21 days.   Greater compressive strength equals increased abrasion resistance.  

11. Reduces Water Requirement.  Pozzolan Portland Concrete naturally needs less water due to the amorphous character of the finely ground pozzolan particles.  While remaining workable, the requirement for less water increases impermeability and durability. 

12. Reduces Loss On Ignition of CO2 & Toxins – By processing the pozzolan with The Hill Process, all L.O.I. release of CO2 and toxins are eliminated due to the mechanical ‘cold’ process. No heat = no evaporation or combustion of CO2 or toxins.

13. Superior Encapsulation / Less Leeching – Pozzolan Portland Cement makes superior encapsulating concrete with fewer capillary pores that expose the surface to water penetration -therefore, less leeching.