Concrete never be a material that can amplifies the building because the function only enhance the building alone. However, the conditions would change immediately after a Mexican scientist named Jose Carlos Rubio Avalos find the 'Glow in The Dark' cement.
Cement is a major component forming the concrete will be able to beautify the city landscape at night from Shanghai to Seoul. Cement is made of energy-efficient material that can absorb the sunlight and begins to emit the light when the night comes.
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| A small piece of cement with large potential. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1cQ4Tn) |
"This cement can be applied in the use of exterior and interior of the building," said Rubio Avalos who is also a researcher at the University Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Mexico.
As we all knew, cements are the millions of dollars industry and in 2014 ago, the global consumption of these materials exceeded 4.3 billion tons. Now, the discovery of Rubio Avalos believed to be able to change the existing cement industry. He also received many requests related his inventions, ranging from government, the business community, to the non-governmental organization (NGO).
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| Glowing in the dark bike path. (Picture from: http://adf.ly/1cQ4Tn) |
Various requests that would be used for the manufacture of home applications, bike paths, highways, interior, and even a swimming pool. For examples, one NGO named Doctor Without Borders wants to apply the glow in the dark cement in a public bathroom frequently in trouble with the lighting system and also in order to make women feel safe when entering a public restroom.
The cement manufacturing process begins by mixing the powder with water and once solidified gel, the cement sign in the form of crystalline flake. The flakes are part of the cement that is not necessary. Rubio Avalos then find a way to change the microstructure of cement which makes the flakes do not appear.
As a result, the cement without the crystalline flakes can absorb solar energy and emits the light when the night comes. According to him, the light-emitting product from the cement could last for 100 years and shines for 12 hours at night.
"Some people then say that this is a completely new material," he said.
The color produced far is merely a blue sea and green light, but Rubio Avalos is trying to make the cement with the color of red, white, and purple. Now, he is also trying to build a factory capable of producing cement is expected within three to five months. However, all it will cost big money.
"If we want commercialized and met all the demand from Europe, America, Africa, and Asia so we need around US. $5-6 million," he said further. The high cost of funds due to the complex structure owned by the cement and according to Rubio Avalos, his invention is five times more expensive than ordinary cement manufacture.
Nevertheless, the overall structure should not use this cement. Rubio Avalos said they just simply coated out layers only. However, it did not cover the high cost of the use of cement.
"Every single square meter which may be 3 millimeters thick would cost about US. $60 to $70 (Rp.780,000 - Rp.910,000)," said Rubio Avalos. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CNN]
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