Earthquake Resistant Building Materials
We recently came across a blog headline: “Earthquake Resistant Building Materials”
This cement system has very good potential for low-temperature applications. Furan resins potentially provide the following important advantages: 1) low cost; the fact that they do not require petroleum-based feedstock should enhance the cost/availability outlook for these resins; 2) rapid cure and low-temperature cure; 3) extended shelf life.
The uncatalyzed furan resins have virtually unlimited shelf life. Furan resins (mainly furfural-acetone resin) are widely used in the Soviet Union (now Commonwealth of Independent States) and eastern Europe. The furan resin systems are often acid-catalyzed; because of this, sometimes the bonding with alkaline portland cement systems has been found to be a problem. The most popular resin used in European countries is formed using a ratio of 1.5:1 furfural to acetone, the main components of which are monofurfurylidenacetone, difurfurylidenacetone, and furfural. Different percentages of these components in the various resins greatly influence the polymerization mechanism, causing noticeable variances in the properties of the material. The most popular hardener for furfural acetone resins is benzosulfoacid; n-toluosulfochloride and toluosulfoacid are also commonly used. Chloride compounds of iron, concentrated sulfuric acid, and amine hardeners are also sometimes used.”
Read the blog or the Appendix 2 of the attached report! NB: They mention polyurethanes (“PU”): Furfural could also be used as building blocks to make polyols (and even as a reactant to make PU!!!).
