did a search on "stolen" and "chemical" with no posts found... posting interesting story.
The chemical is Rheocrete.
Article completely contradicted by this one:
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_042704_chemical.html "When we hear about chemical thefts now we all understandably get nervous. But the reality is rheocrete, the missing chemical, is considered more of a concrete additive. It is so harmless that contact with your skin poses no safety concerns."
The question is, could the two thefts of rheocrete from the tanks here be linked to a missing empty gasoline tanker, stolen from Pennsauken, New Jersey, earlier this month.
It's doubtful, says the lead Bogota detective assigned to this case.
Det. Timothy Geipel, Bogota Police: "The truck was reported being stolen April 8th or 9th, and our original theft was between the 31st of March and April 5th."
In other words, the chemical was taken before the tanker was stolen. Eastern Concrete had 2,600 gallons stolen in the first incident, and in the second, smaller, theft of 500 gallons.
Det. Timothy Geipel: "I would think if you had a truck this big, you would have taken more. There was more available."
Rheocrete is made up of 65 percent water, and 30 percent calcium nitrate, and is used as an anti-corrosive mixture added to concrete. It requires no special handling, and is even biodegradable. The manufacturer, Master Builders' Technology of Ohio, issued this statement:
"Rheocrete CNI is not an explosive material, nor can it be easily converted to an explosive material without multiple chemical steps and industrial scale processing equipment."
Master Builders,
Environmental Health and Safety Manager
Still, as a precaution the Bogota Police Department issued a teletype to law enforcement agencies. Right now detectives are leaning toward the theft theory held by Eastern Concrete executives.
Michael Mitchele, Eastern Concrete: "I think that somebody in the industry just took the product because it's an expensive product. And they saved themselves some money by coming and getting it for nothing."