The principle behind it is the use of cement to bind together electrically conductive materials such as carbon fiber, graphite and 'coke breeze' - a cheap by-product of steel production - to make a continuous network of conducting pathway.  The design formulation is based on the 'electrical percolation' principle by which the composite conductivity increases dramatically by several orders of magnitude when the content of the conductive phase reaches a critical 'threshold' value. Further increases in the conductive phase content boost composite conductivity only slightly. The design specifies an amount just over the threshold content, assuring high conductivity and mechanical strength as well as good mixing conditions.

Conductive concrete particles and fibers are added to conventional aggregate and cement paste compositions to achieve the conductive concrete, which can be fabricated by two methods. The first one is by conventional mixing, which has relatively higher resistivity and high compressive strength. The second one is by slurry infiltration. This method can increase compressive and flexural strengths, and lower resistivity can be obtained.

The conductive concrete can be used as a structural material and bonds well with normal concrete. The conventional mixing type is lightweight, with only 70 per cent of normal concrete weight. Thermal stability is comparable to normal concrete, production employs conventional mixing and casting equipment, and application of the conductive concrete is similar to that of conventional concrete.

The conductive concrete could be used along with specially configured electrodes and an electric power supply to provide de-icing on roads, sidewalks, bridges and runways. Placed as an overlay, conductive concrete with very low resistivity can be used as a secondary anode in existing cathodic protection systems, providing uniform current distribution over its large surface area and reduced anodic current density. At the same time, it provides excellent mechanical stability due to its load-bearing capacity and its bond strength as an overlay. And because conductive concrete attenuates electromagnetic and radio waves, it can be used to shield computer equipment from eavesdropping efforts and protect electrical installations and electronic equipment from interference.

• Conductive concrete has excellent mechanical and electrical conductivity properties.
• It is much lighter in weight than conventional concrete.
• It can be produced easily, without special equipment.
• It will reduce the need of salts and save millions in dollars in snow removal costs.
• It warms by power taken off line, it uses an AC current and a 120 Volt plug.
• It is also safe for a person crossing a charged concrete pathway.
• It can also be used for protecting structures against static electricity and lightning, and preventing steel structures and reinforcing layer of steel in concrete structures from corroding.
• It absorbs over 90% of the electromagnetic energy and it is cheaper and more convenient than the existing ways of blocking out electromagnetic energy.

One of the recent implementations of this technology was the use of conductive concrete overlay for bridge deck de-icing conducted by Department of Civil Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and sponsored by Nebraska Department of Roads.