Special concrete for world’s most powerful laser
LafargeHolcim supply high-performance concrete for the European XFEL super laser in Germany
HIGH-performance concrete from LafargeHolcim has been used to line the 3.4km tunnel housing the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, the European XFEL, near Hamburg, in Germany.
The European XFEL generates extremely intense X-ray flashes that are used by researchers from all over the world. The flashes produced in underground tunnels allow scientists to map atomic details of viruses, film chemical reactions, and study the processes in the interior of planets.
LafargeHolcim, through their local company Holcim Deutschland, delivered specialist concretes for the facility’s extensive underground tunnel system, including easy-to-pump heavy concrete for radioprotection and underwater concrete.
LafargeHolcim’s concrete engineers also developed special concrete mixes specifically for European XFEL. These fulfilled the building contractor’s requirements for reduced content of aluminum, natrum, silica and magnesium, which can be found in traditional concretes and may have interfered with the highly sensitive measurements.
Similarly, some concrete mixes, required the use of special limestone chippings to deliver particularly low silica levels.
Together with the contractor, the Group carried out extensive chemical and physical tests for every concrete mix to ensure the highest performance levels for the project were reached.
LafargeHolcim also developed an integrated logistics solution for the European XFEL. As part of the concept the Group had to make sure that deliveries complied with strict traffic, dust and noise regulations.
With their global R&D center in Lyon, France, and building on the extensive tunnelling expertise available in the Group, particularly in Switzerland, LafargeHolcim say they are uniquely placed to support architects and engineers by delivering construction materials to handle the specifications of technologically challenging projects all over the world.
