Conductive concrete

Potholes often originate from the liberal use of salt or de-icing chemicals that can corrode

concrete and contaminate groundwater over time, making the conductive concrete an appealing alternative with lower operating and maintenance costs. ...

Tuan said the conductive concrete could also prove feasible for high-traffic intersections, exit ramps, driveways and sidewalks. Yet the technology offers another, very different application that doesn’t even require electric current.

By replacing the limestone and sand typically used in concrete with a mineral called magnetite, Tuan has shown that the mixture can also shield against electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic spectrum includes the radiofrequency waves transmitted and received by cellphones, which Tuan said could make the concrete mixture useful to those concerned about becoming targets of industrial espionage.

Using the magnetite-embedded concrete, Tuan and his colleagues have built a small structure in their laboratory that demonstrates the material’s shielding capabilities. ...

From materials provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Science Daily