ECOncrete™'s products and solutions are based on extensive research and development. The Company's R&D efforts are targeted to expand the amount of ecological concrete-based habitats, which allow for larger biodiversity in more and more specific coastal environments.

The Company's R&D consists of various laboratory and field studies:

• In order to comply with the formal requirements for coastal and marine construction, all ECOncrete™ matrices undergo a comprehensive series of tests following the ASTM and EN standards, including:
  • Specific gravity and water absorption of aggregate and sand
  • Gradation of sand and aggregates
  • Organic impurities
  • Fine particles content
  • Clay lumps
  + - Read full list of tests Click to collapse
  Aggregate crushing value
  Sand equivalent test
  Blain
  Setting time of cement
  Strength of cement
  Sample preparation
  Slump
  Flow time determination - " V-funnel test
  Lowability determination - "L-Shape box"
  Flow table
  Air content
  Temperature measurement
  Density (unit weight)
  Time of setting
  Bleeding
  Strength tests
  Compressive strength
  Flexural strength
  Splitting tensile strength
  Air-content of hardened concrete
  Volume or length change
  Early volume change
  Static modulus of elasticity and Poisson's ratio
  Freeze-thaw resistance
  Alkali-carbonate reactivity
  In situ maturity tests
  Density of hardened concrete
  Penetration depth of water under pressure
  Rapid chloride permeability
• In order to validate the biological capabilities of ECOncrete™'s products larval settlement of key species with ecological significance is tested under controlled laboratory conditions. Oysters and corals, which create calcium carbonate skeletons; invertebrates such as ascidians, which filter access organic matter from the water; encrusting coralline algae, barnacles, bivalves and incrusting bryozoans, which have the capability to induce other marines species; are all tested against a variety of cement matrices and surface textures.
• All ECOncrete™ matrices are also evaluated in the field in terms of biological and ecological efficiency in various marine environments, in comparison to standard Portland cement. Our test stations can be found in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean along the East coast of the USA, including Savannah, Georgia, NYC harbor, the Great Lakes and the Florida Keys. This geographic spread provides a good cover of tropical to temperate environments. The structural parameters, as well as the biological and ecological efficiency of ECOncrete™ matrices are continuously monitored. Variables such as species richness, biodiversity, percent cover, and biomass are measured to validate biological functionality. Parameters such as pH, small scale hydrodynamics, sediment load, and levels of dissolved oxygen are measured to validate environmental functionality.