How Has Roman Concrete Lasted for Millennia? A 1,900-Year-Old Latrine Offers New Clues About the Material's Impressive Durability
Reported bySmithsonian Smart News ↗·Sourced by Goodlede
Researchers studying concrete from a 1,900-year-old latrine at Hadrian's Villa near Rome discovered that a chemical process called carbonation—in which atmospheric carbon dioxide reacts with calcium compounds to form calcite—helps seal cracks and strengthens Roman concrete over time, findings published in Science Advances on July 8.
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