LAFARGEHOLCIM has developed a specialist, high-performance concrete for the European XFEL super laser in Germany. The 3.4km tunnel houses the world’s most powerful X-ray laser, European XFEL, generating extremely intense X-ray flashes that are used by researchers from all over the world.
LafargeHolcim’s concrete engineers developed special concrete mixes and fulfilled the building contractor’s requirements for reduced content of aluminium, natrum, silica and magnesium, which can traditionally be found in concrete and may have interfered with the highly sensitive measurements.
The company also provided easy-to-pump heavy concrete for radio protection and underwater concrete.