Startup brings ancient Roman concrete technology to modern construction

Applying ancient insights

Masic's research at MIT has involved using new characterization techniques to probe the chemical makeup of ancient concrete. It has also brought him to well-preserved ancient construction sites in Pompeii, where historical practices could be deconstructed.

In a 2023 study funded, in part, by the Concrete Sustainability Hub, Masic and collaborators showed that when ancient Roman concrete cracks, reservoirs of calcium inside it desolve and recrystallize to fill in the new openings. Using that insight, the team developed new concrete formulations based on the Ancient Roman technique that deliberately retain calcium-rich lime clasts throughout the mix. The researchers spent a year testing samples to show the technique improved the mechanical performance and durability of different forms of concrete.

Those findings served as the foundation of DMAT. Masic partnered with Italian entrepreneur Paolo Sabatini to commercialize the technology shortly after the paper was published.

DMAT has since developed a large portfolio of proprietary technology on top of what was licensed from MIT. As it developed its solution, DMAT worked with company laboratories to secure safety and performance certifications in the European Union and ensure it fit modern concrete-making practices.

"At DMAT, we like to view concrete as an ecosystem," says Sabatini, who serves as DMAT's CEO and co-founder. "How does a material become the biggest industry in the world? There are considerations around not just materials but also transportation, price, and certifications. In order to get adoption, you need to design something that fits within the current industry's ecosystem."

Today DMAT supplies additives that can be mixed with concrete and mortar to extend the lifespan and performance of the materials. DMAT sells its additives to developers as well as concrete manufacturers to incorporate when mixing the concrete. More recently, the company has also introduced a line of ready-mix bagged mortars for structural restoration.

"When we work with clients, we can customize the concrete mix for their project and then supply filler using our recipe," Sabatini explains. "We provide recipes to concrete manufacturers and engineers that improve the performance of concrete. But we also work across the supply chain with developers, architects, construction companies, and others."