Biodynamic cement for Palazzo Italia, this is the innovative solution developed by Italcementi for the construction of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2015.
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For an ambitious project like Palazzo Italia, leading Italian specialised companies have been called on to pitch in to design and build an extraordinary structure.
The Italian Pavilion will be the throbbing heart of Expo 2015. The architectural design, by Nemesi & Partners, envisages the construction of a complex structure whose exterior and some interior spaces recall the shapes of branches in a thick forest, nationmultimedia.com reports.
The entire outdoor surface and part of the interiors will consist of i.active biodynamic cement panels, obtained using Syl-Comp technology from the new material developed at i.lab, the heart of Italcementi's research and innovation.
The product's name is a summary of its innovative characteristics. The "bio" component is given by the product's photocatalytic properties, originating from the active ingredient TX Active, patented by Italcementi.
In direct sunlight, the active principle contained in the material "captures" certain pollutants present in the air and converts them into inert salts, helping to purify the atmosphere from smog. The mortar is also made from 80-per-cent recycled aggregates, part of which consists of scraps from the cutting of Carrara marble, and provide a superior brilliance compared to traditional white cements.
The "dynamic" component is a specific characteristic of the new material, whose particular fluidity allows the creation of complex shapes like those found in the Palazzo Italia panels.
Thanks to its high workability, i.active biodynamic can penetrate the frameworks, designed one by one and manufactured by Styl-Comp, and form the final design of the panel, ensuring an extraordinary surface quality.
The material also features outstanding workability and resistance compared to classic mortars. Its initial fluidity is three times greater, 300mm versus 100mm. it is twice as resistant to compression, over 60MPa compared to 30MPa of classic mortars, and twice as resistant to flexion, over 10MPa against 5MPa. ■