The main environmental challenge for the concrete industry is cement production. By developing technologies to reduce the proportion of Portland cement in concrete, we can save large amounts of energy and drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 2D fab coworker, Jan Nordin, believes graphene could play a key role in this transition.
Concrete has been used in buildings, roads, and bridges for centuries. Concrete is strong, resilient, and easy to produce. One of the main components in concrete is cement which, unfortunately, is a major climate villain. Cement production require vast amounts of natural resources, and currently accounts for about 6-8% of the global CO2 emissions.
The concrete industry needs to decarbonize, and one efficient way to do this is by reducing the amount of cement clinker in it. New binders with lower proportion of Portland cement are currently being developed in Sweden. These products are based on new inorganic compounds and residual products from the Swedish industry. With new binders, however, come new challenges. Among other things, new complementary technologies are required to maintain the elasticity of the concrete and to ensure durability in cold climates.
2D fab coworker, Jan Nordin wants to facilitate the development of replacement products for Portland cement, using graphene. He is currently developing unique admixture products, based on graphene, with potential to make frost-resistant concrete that is stronger and less prone to cracking. These products proved to increase compression strength, flexural strength, and reduce water absorption in concrete.
