KairuByte comments on Extinction Rebellion claims responsibility for chemical-filled balloon attack targeting Microsoft datacenter project

[–] KairuByte@lemmy.world 24 points 3 months ago (7 children)

I feel like none of these things will actually weaken concrete, unless it’s being added to the concrete mix itself.

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[–] FiniteBanjo@feddit.online 31 points 3 months ago (6 children)

The concrete is actually highly acidic but the outer layer cures to become alkaline and the two layers together end up becoming water resistant, so by adding acid to the surface it can lose its water repellent capability and weaken faster.

If the concrete were sealed with a wax or an acrylic then Acetone would also be effective.

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[–] KairuByte@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago (5 children)

Oh really? I honestly never considered that possibility and always thought of concrete as a kind of inert “stone,” I find this legitimately interesting.

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[–] RIotingPacifist@lemmy.world 24 points 3 months ago (2 children)

My understanding is that the genius of such attacks is they don't actually have to do the damage but if there's the fear of chemical damage you don't want to build the rest of a building on top of it.

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[–] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago

This right here is the answer. The possibility that the concrete cure was all or partially disrupted can mean the concrete has to go away and be re-poured.

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[–] snooggums@piefed.world 10 points 3 months ago

That would be a great reason to announce the damage as well, which they did.

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[–] Maestro@fedia.io 11 points 3 months ago

Check out the Hoover Dam. It's concrete is still curing to this day!