How do you get a research gig like this?

Potato Chip Flavoring Boosts Longevity Of Concrete

Summarized from : http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/iecred/2007/46/i16/html/ie070527l.html

The ingredient that helps give “salt & vinegar” potato chips that tangy snap is the key to a new waterproof coating for protecting concrete from water damage, scheduled for the current (August 1) issue of ACS’ Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, a bi-weekly journal. Awni Al-Otoom and colleagues in Jordan point out that concrete’s unique properties have made it the world’s most widely used structural material. Concrete, however, is so porous that water soaks in, corroding steel reinforcing bars and meshes that strengthen concrete roads and buildings and causing cracks as water expands and contracts during freeze-thaw cycles. Sealants are commercially available, but they have serious shortcomings, the study notes. In the new report, researchers describe the use of sodium acetate as an inexpensive and environmentally friendly concrete sealant. One of sodium acetate’s many uses is in flavored potato chips. In laboratory studies using freshly made concrete, the researchers showed that sodium acetate seeps into pores in concrete and then hardens and crystallizes upon exposure to water. The resultant swelling blocks entry of additional moisture, they said. Under dry conditions, the crystals shrink back to their original size and allow moisture to evaporate. The net result is “a significant reduction in water permeability,” that “can be expected to increase the service life of the concrete,” the report said.

A Thunder for Thunder

For those who've known me for more than 13 years - I know one of you who reads this has, would know that in the good old days of the Internet, when I ran an ISP, I called myself Thunder...

Well, in the search for a new chariot, I finally decided on a Holden VZ SS Thunder Ute, which, even though being a V8 is so much better value than the SVZ I was looking at earlier.

After an early e-mail to SmartSalary, who are now managing our salary packaging, they located me a Silver Ute, and I dashed down to Elsternwick in my lunch break to drive one, to make sure it was what I wanted, and secured the order!

I should take delivery in a week or so, and she'll look something a lot like this:

Lunch in Paynesville

Headed down to Paynesville on the Gippsland Lakes for a quick lunch of fish and chips today. I hadn't been down there for a couple of years, when I was down there for a long weekend with Michelle and Bevan, who are now in Geraldton.

The wind would have blown a dog off a chain, but the day was beautiful nevertheless...





This cormorant looked for all the world like a penguin from a distance, so I had to take a closer photo of him...

And he STILL looks like a penguin on a post! :-)

Finally, a car decision

Never thought it would happen, but looks like I'm going to get myself a Holden!

Holden have just released a limited edition V6 ute, with upgraded brakes, leather trim and alloy wheels, calling it the SVZ

Currently waiting on a lease quote to come through, and should be putting a deposit down this weekend :-)



Thinking I will look around and pick myself up a small 4WD as well at some point in time, something like a Toyota Landcruiser Bundera, or a Daihatsu Feroza... Something I can take out in the bush and have a bit of fun in, that isn't worth a lot, but will get me around and about...

Some Images from Bruthen

Drove across the Great Alpine Road today, from Wangaratta to Bairnsdale. The weather on the way up to Mount Hotham was so bad, that I had about 5 meters visibility. I was dying to get out of the car, and take a photo of one of those orange snow poles, with the sign on the top saying "Keep to the Right of Poles", as it was kind of ironic you couldn't see them! Plus, it was too damn cold to get out of the car! Hoping from the fact that I got snowed on at Mount Hotham, we will have a better ski season that last year!

Once past Mount Hotham (I stopped to ask if there was any black ice on the road towards Bairnsdale), the weather cleared up rapidly, and I was soon at the other end of the Alpine Road, having had lots of fun on the winding road between Omeo and Bruthen - must come back in a car that doesn't have 300 kg of computer gear in the back sometime!

Saw a few old relics worthy of snapping photos of on the way down into Bairnsdale


Poor, old Chimney - having a lay down


Old Bruthen Rail Bridge - Must come back and ride the rail trail one of these days


Short, Succinct, and to the point...

New Life

Awesome news from long time friends Andrew and Lisa this morning...

Congratulations guys :-)


Photo Borrowed from Andrew Lighten

Abandoned

The remnants of an old galvanized bucket, in the bed of the Murray River at Thompson's Beach near Cobram..

Amazing what you spy when you're in a conference call... :-)