Resources (Material): MINERALS
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What Are MINERALS?
A mineral is a naturally occurring or manufactured material made up of crushed stone, sand, gravel, or other mineral particles that are used as a component in construction material. Our effort with the material is to create products that visually replace Concrete, with similar textural and surface features, but do so using significantly less material, saving energy, weight, and providing installation savings.
Mass Concrete: What It Is and Why Minimizing Its Use Matters
- Concrete is a construction material made from mixing cement, with aggregates and sometimes additives with water
- It is processed through an extremely highly carbon-intensive process
- Using less concrete conserves resources, energy, and prevents waste
The chemical reaction of producing ‘mass concrete’ is called hydration, wherein the mixture binds together and hardens. Concrete has strong compressive values, is very durable, and can be used in many different applications, but the reality of the material is that it is NOT a sustainable product, as its main component (cement) is responsible for 7-8% of global CO² emissions, and the heating of the calcium carbonate in the mixture occurs at very high temperatures that also releases large amounts of CO² from both its’ combustion (at 1450 degrees C) and the chemical reaction that occurs during the heating. Concrete is very carbon intensive, and though visually appealing, our use of Mineral Aggregate in the Concrete LITE provides a sustainable concrete visual option.
What Makes Our Use of MINERALS in Concrete LITE Viable?
- Look and feel of real concrete
- It uses a fraction of the raw materials (compared to ‘mass concrete’)
- Available in multiple colors and styles, suitable for many design elements and applications
Though there is currently no scaled, viable, and cost-effective replacement for the structural component of concrete, it is still often used as a decorative element in construction, one which historically could only be achieved through the placement of concrete slab purposes. Concrete LITE provides the look and feel of ‘real’ concrete, but in a much more efficient way. Instead of an 8” thick wall, you can achieve the same aesthetic value in a 3mm (1/8”) veneer (so, roughly less than 2% of the input materials). Concrete LITE panels, available in both FLEX and SCULPTED versions, are ideal for both planar and curved surfaces and can be used inside or outside.
How Is Concrete LITE Processed?
- Our Mineral products use 90% of mineral aggregates that are recovered from production waste from large quarries
- The manufacturing process uses between 80-100% of PV (Photovoltaic) energy to produce (varies based on season/sunlight)
- Mineral Aggregates are mixed with a small amount of resin to formulate
Ultimately, through our process and products, we are finding a home for non-renewable waste, which in turn protects natural heritage and landscapes, while providing viable materials which replace more carbon intensive technologies. By incorporating sustainable energy techniques (like PV energy) to run the process, we are making the best with the least.
Why Is Concrete LITE Sustainable?
By using less input materials, less carbon is being used, and mining resources get stretched
By providing lower weight products, there are significant benefits with transportation and its’ footprint, and it is faster and easier to install
Our Mineral Aggregate Concrete LITE can be used almost anywhere without additional consideration relating to load, structure, and curing time
By incorporating a zero-waste manufacturing process (where any waste is put back into material production) and using renewable ‘PV’ (Photovoltaic) energy for production (covers between 80-100% of energy use; seasonally dependent), the Concrete LITE production process is “Carbon Neutral”.
Our Background in the Decorative Concrete Space
Over the last 10 years we have seen the development of a mass concrete visual replacement, as an important sustainable design consideration. We have vetted a number of manufacturers that were working to pioneer in this space, and throughout the process we have learned the ins and outs of the differing production techniques. Now we realize that if you want a real concrete look, available in a multitude of options and colors, with a track record of excellence, we found it.
