Marshmallow Concrete: The Soft Material That Stops Planes Safely!

Imagine a giant marshmallow that can stop a speeding airplane! 🛬 Sounds magical, right? Well, scientists in the Chinese mainland have created a special kind of concrete that’s light and fluffy, just like a marshmallow, and it can help stop planes safely during emergency landings.

What Is Marshmallow Concrete?

This amazing material looks like regular concrete, but it’s much lighter. In fact, more than 80% of it is made up of tiny air pockets, making it weigh only 200 kilograms per cubic meter—that’s about one-tenth the weight of normal concrete! Because it’s so light and full of air, it’s been nicknamed “marshmallow” concrete.

How Does It Work?

When an airplane needs to make an emergency landing, it can overshoot the runway. That’s where marshmallow concrete comes in! This special concrete is placed at the end of runways to create a “soft barrier.” If a plane goes too far, the concrete gently crushes under the plane’s weight, slowing it down smoothly and safely.

Fang Jun, a research and development engineer at the China Building Materials Academy (CBMA), explains, “It looks solid, but crumbles upon impact, decelerating planes smoothly.”

Why Is This Important?

Takeoffs and landings are the most critical times for airplanes. By using marshmallow concrete, airports can prevent accidents and keep passengers safe. Traditional materials like water pools or sand have problems like freezing in winter or being affected by weather. Marshmallow concrete doesn’t have these issues!

How Did Scientists Make It?

Creating marshmallow concrete wasn’t easy. The scientists had to find a way to control its strength very precisely. They used a special ingredient called a “maleated rosin-based twin-chain air-entraining agent” (that’s a mouthful!) to make strong bubbles inside the concrete. These bubbles act like tiny airbags that absorb the energy when a plane lands on them.

Making It Affordable and Durable

While other countries use expensive materials to make similar safety systems, the Chinese team wanted to make something that was both effective and affordable. They used ordinary cement and found clever ways to make it last a long time outdoors, even in harsh weather.

The Future of Safe Landings

Thanks to these innovative scientists, marshmallow concrete could become a common sight at airports around the world. It shows how thinking outside the box can lead to inventions that make our lives safer and better!

So next time you eat a marshmallow, think about how something soft and squishy can help stop a giant airplane! 🍬✈️

Reference(s):

Scientists create 'marshmallow' concrete to stop aircraft safely

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