Seth Tandett points out that in just four years, Type IL cement use jumped from 10% to over 60% of U.S. projects. A massive change in concrete chemistry for an industry that usually moves at a crawl.
In 2021–2022, the PCA (now ACA) told producers to switch to Portland Limestone Cement as the quickest way to claim a 10% CO₂ reduction. Within months, federal agencies made it the default for public projects.
Why? Dr. Jon and Seth question what really caused the massive spike in 2022. Cement consumption didn’t just rise—it skyrocketed to 60% in less than two years. What changed that fast?
Dr. Jon questions where the industry’s limestone is really coming from—and why some piles might have more grass than quality material. When cheap filler meets high expectations, the math doesn’t add up.
Dr. Jon explains why a concrete mix design isn’t that different from baking cookies. You’ve got to know your recipe—chemistry, timing, and feel—if you want consistent, high-performing concrete.
Indiana just told the cement industry it won’t accept any blended cement with more than 10% limestone. That’s a first - and it’s not sitting well with the people who pushed Type IL cement in the first place. For the first time, a state DOT pushed back on Type IL…
Indiana just told the cement industry it won’t accept any blended cement with more than 10% limestone. That’s a first—and it’s not sitting well with the people who pushed Type IL cement in the first place. For the first time, a state DOT pushed back on Type IL cement—and the…
The AI race isn’t just about chips and servers—it’s about concrete. In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, Silverback Concrete explains how concrete—the second most used material on Earth—is central to the U.S. staying competitive in the global push for artificial intelligence. They share how smarter, cooler concrete mix…
What if smarter concrete design could help the grid use less energy? In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, the Silverback Concrete team talks about how conduit placement and three-phase power alignment inside duct banks can reduce heat by another 10–15%. Less heat means less wasted energy—and a more…
Most specs talk about water-cement ratio—but few people measure the real one. In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, Silverback Concrete explains why the true water-cement ratio (not just what’s on the batch ticket) determines whether low rho concrete actually performs. They break down how mix temperature, batching conditions,…
What if your concrete mix could slash a data center’s power bill by 10–12% every month? In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, the Silverback Concrete team explains how low rho (low thermal resistivity) concrete reduces heat, saves wear on electrical systems, and delivers massive long-term savings for owners…
How you cure concrete in a duct bank can make or break its performance. In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, Silverback Concrete explains why density, bleed water, and hydration control are key to hitting low rho values—and why denser concrete equals better thermal performance.
Data centers aren’t just warehouses for servers—they’ve become the fifth utility. In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, the team from Silverback Concrete explains how modern life—planes, cars, grids, and even Netflix—runs on uninterrupted data flow. They break down why latency and power efficiency are now mission-critical, and how…
WHAT IF YOUR CONCRETE MIX COULD CUT A DATA CENTER’S POWER BILL BY 15%? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett talks with Frank Stankunas Sr., Frank Stankunas Jr., and James Cordeiro from Silverback Concrete about a concept most engineers haven’t thought about — thermal resistivity…
What if your concrete mix could cut a data center’s power bill by 15%? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett talks with Frank Stankunas Sr., Frank Stankunas Jr., and James Cordeiro from Silverback Concrete about a concept most engineers haven’t thought about—thermal resistivity in concrete.…
Dan McCoy compares high-silica-fume concrete to nuclear testing—literally. In this clip, he explains how volatile some mixes can get when too much silica fume is added, referencing the “tickling the dragon’s tail” experiments from Los Alamos. Joined by Dr. Jon Belkowitz and host Seth Tandett, the group connects the dots…
Dan McCoy cuts through the noise with a simple point: before anything else, ask—what do we want the concrete to do? Joined by Dr. Jon Belkowitz and host Seth Tandett, the group breaks down why understanding the purpose of the concrete—structural, surface, or mass—is the key to performance and longevity.
Dr. Jon Belkowitz explains what happens when water gets trapped inside concrete at the micron scale—and why it can actually make the concrete stronger. Joined by Seth Tandett and Dan McCoy, the group discusses how confined water changes from a liability into a strength-producing material.
Dan McCoy explains why chasing compressive strength can backfire. In this clip, he breaks down the real goal: balancing performance, shrinkage, and durability for how the concrete will actually be used. Joined by Dr. Jon Belkowitz and host Seth Tandett, the conversation shifts from numbers to performance-based thinking.
Dan McCoy explains how silica fume became the go-to for bridge deck overlays—and why that might’ve been a mistake. In this clip, Seth Tandett, Dr. Jon Belkowitz, and Dan talk about how silica fume was treated as an addition instead of a true supplementary cementitious material, and what that means…
Dan McCoy says the problem isn’t the materials—it’s how we use them. In this clip, Seth Tandett, Dr. Jon Belkowitz, and Dan talk about the real issue holding back performance: complacency. The mix that worked 10 or 25 years ago might not cut it today. Materials change. Testing should too.
Dan McCoy compares colloidal silica to 5G—new, expensive, and not always better. In this clip from the Concrete Logic Podcast, Seth Tandett, Dr. Jon Belkowitz, and Dan unpack what colloidal silica actually is, how it’s made, and why cost alone doesn’t tell the full story.
What happens when the concrete industry’s “wonder dust” meets its high-tech rival? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett brings back Dan McCoy and Dr. Jon Belkowitz to challenge everything we thought we knew about silica fume. From bridge deck overlays that crack like eggshells to…
What happens when the concrete industry’s “wonder dust” meets its high-tech rival? In this episode of the Concrete Logic Podcast, host Seth Tandett brings back Dan McCoy and Dr. Jon Belkowitz to challenge everything we thought we knew about silica fume. From bridge deck overlays that crack like eggshells to…