Technical

So how is this possible?

The mineral calcium carbonate, in the ocean, has electrically positive charged ions. All electrical currents, consists of the flow of ions from a positive point to a negative point. Like magnets, with ions opposites attract.

The wire mesh is immersed in seawater and electrical connections made, which creates an electrical flow where the wire mesh becomes a negative cathode. Ions of calcium combine with ions of carbonate in the seawater to form positive ions of calcium carbonate, which is attracted to the negative cathode of the wire mesh and deposited on the mesh as a solid.

As long as the electrical current flows, calcium carbonate and traces of other minerals, from the seawater, will continue to accretiate and thicken on the wire mesh indefinitely.

The amount that is extracted is surprising to say the least, and it is claimed that one kilowatt hour of electricity, (the equivalent power consumption of a one bar electric fire running for one hour) running through the wire mesh, will extract 4.2 pounds of calcium carbonate out of the seawater and deposit it onto the wire mesh as a solid.

Strength

Actual Seacrete creations of Professor Hilbertz demonstrated that Seacrete is both stronger and lighter than standard concrete. Seacrete created in 6 weeks, on ½" wire mesh, has a breaking strength of 4267 psi, which is 20% stronger than normal concrete. If it is deposited for longer periods, it produces an even stronger Seacrete, with breaking strengths up to 8000 psi obtained after 1 year. Seacrete is superior in every way to conventional concrete. It helps the environment by not needing all of the ingredients of traditional concrete. There is no sand, aggregate or endless bags of cement required.

Power formula

The amount of electrical current required to cause Seacrete to accretiate on the wire mesh is low. Only thirty amps at six volts is needed to form a current density of 1.3 milli-amps per square inch and create a one inch thickness of Seacrete in approximately 6 weeks. For more rapid deposition of calcium carbonate onto the wire mesh, current densities as high as 50,000 milli-amps per square foot can be used, but the greater the current density, the weaker the Seacrete.

Professor Hilbertz perfected the accretiation of Seacrete down to exact formulas. 189 milli-amps of current density through a ½ inch wire mesh will accretiate 1/10th of an inch of Seacrete in 170 hours. This is an accretiation rate of .0005 inches per hour. It takes three weeks, at that current density, to fill the ½ inch gaps in the wire mesh. A kilowatt of electrical power at 12 volts will create a current density of 189 milli-amps per square foot over a total area of 441 square feet.

More research

Surprisingly, the original work of Professor Hilbertz was not followed up except by a few enthusiasts lately, therefore Seacrete is still in the experimental stages and still requires more research into methods of creating very large structures. There, however, would not appear to be any problem that cannot be overcome.

More information can be found at

www.stanford.edu/~erlee/seament/Seament.htm is a site dedicated to seacrete, they call it seament, but it is the same story.

http://celestopea.com/index.html Similar information to that we have written above.

Enter 'seacrete or seament' into search engines, you will find a small number <100 entries, but maybe some of interest.

Alternatives

Ferrocement. This is a proven technology that has been used to build boats for over 30 years. Ferrocement is a unique substance in itself. If built correctly, it is inexpensive, will not rust, rot or corrode, and fireproof. We have another section within this web site looking at this in greater detail. Use the contents button on the very top of page if you have difficulty finding it.