Concrete has a huge carbon footprint.Graphene can change that
Concrete is described as: the most destructive substance on earthAfter water, it is the most used substance in the world, twice as much as steel, wood, plastic and aluminium. Combined.
More than 4 billion tons of cement are produced each year to make all this concrete. According to the Chatham House Think Tankwhich produces about 8% of all CO2 emissions. all trucks around the world.
Cement manufacturers urgently need to reduce this footprint.To To meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement on climate change, the industry needs to reduce emissions. at least 16% At the same time, the sector is facing increasing demands due to rapid urbanization and population growth.
It’s a matter of anticipation. But engineers believe graphene offers a solution.
“We only need 0.01% of the material.
First isolated at the University of Manchester in 2004, the 2D nature of graphene offers a unique combination of strength, flexibility, lightness and conductivity. These properties caught the attention of British construction firm Nationwide Engineering.
The company’s haunting acronym, R&D subsidiary NERD (Nationwide Engineering Research and Development), “Wonder material” as a new additive: concrete.
The concrete consists of graphene produced at the University of Manchester.Add a small amount of liquid formulation During the concrete mixing process.
Graphene provides Both mechanical support and active surface for the chemical reactions that occur during cement hydration and hardening.
“Very small amounts of material, sometimes less than 0.01%, are needed to achieve significant performance gains.” Concretene co-founder Alex McDermott told TNW:
“This means the concrete is commercially viable at wholesale costs comparable to existing additives already used in the concrete industry.”
According to McDermott, The concrete used in real construction projects was up to 30-50% stronger than standard concrete. Subsequent lab testing has shown a strength increase of over 100%. As a result, the amount of cement required can be significantly reduced without compromising performance.
Costs, shrinks and cracks can also be reduced. Density cut concrete increases porosity.
“These factors will allow engineers to reduce the amount of concrete needed for future designs, further reducing the CO2 impact,” says McDermott.
Finally, he believes in concrete Can be used in over 99% of concrete worldwide.
Initial tests of Concretene have shown promising results.
In 2021, NERD laid the world’s first graphene concrete slab across a floor. new gym British.Further testing followed roller disco and housing development.
In total, over 1,000 tons of concrete have been poured in real projects. The next goal is to push the product into the mainstream.
Although it has been difficult to produce graphene at high speed and on a large scale, Recent breakthrough It made mass production a more realistic prospect.
These developments have restored investor confidence. In December, Concretene raised his £8m from his VC. fundraising A round led by LocalGlobe. The cash will be used to accelerate the commercialization plan.
Concrete is now Heathrow Airport, Network Rail, Yorkshire Water, Environment Agency.The first road tests of concrete with national highways will also begin soon
“concrete ‘Real’ testing is done where it’s most viable,” says McDermott. “This is an important step in achieving industry adoption.”
This could be good news for both the construction sector and the environment.apart from British shock jock claimscan’t actually grow concrete, can grow graphene.
https://thenextweb.com/news/concretene-uses-graphene-reduce-concrete-carbon-footprint Concrete has a huge carbon footprint.Graphene can change that
