Tom Ralston polishes a countertop created with metakaolin.
The additive prevents alkali silica reaction (ASR), making
it possible to use recycled glass as aggregate.
Contractors who have used metakaolin
advise that before doing a project with the additive, decorative
concrete craftsmen should prepare trial batches using proposed
materials in order to refine their mix and technique. "Once
they get used to working with it," Bouknight says, "the
guys on my crew love metakaolin, especially how it finishes.
It makes them prouder of the work they do."
Michael Chusid, FCSI, is an architect and serves on the
ACI Committee 124 - Concrete Aesthetics. He is a technical
and marketing consultant to building product manufacturers
and can be reached at www.chusid.com.
