Material and Structural Investigation into a Novel Material

Extensive research work has been carried out in the last 50 years or so with the aim of producing more efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly materials. In the construction industry, this was driven by the growing need for a better and effective way of reducing structural weight and cost. As far as concrete is concerned, which remains one of the most widely used materials in the world, reducing cost in the production of concrete products has lead to greater innovation in the use of lightweight concrete such as foam concrete. The latter is known to be in use for about thirty to forty years, but its low quality characteristics has in no small measure hinder its wide industrial application. This paper presents a novel material called GEM-Tech, which early results from laboratory compressing testing of samples suggests that it has formidable material, structural and environmental characteristics, and the potential to result in lightweight elements and huge savings in the construction of structures.