Construction materials - Page 4

Researchers at Flinders University, University of Melbourne and Birmingham City University are developing a 'value add' approach for old broken concrete for 'upcycling' coarse aggregate to produce a strong, durable and workable concrete using graphene.

The scientists have tested results using a weak graphene solution on recycled aggregates to produce concrete potentially superior to untreated recycled aggregates in cement-based mixtures. 

Researchers at Australia's RMIT University and University of Melbourne have investigated the effectiveness of graphene oxide (GO) sheets in enhancing the compressive strength of 3D-printed cementitious mortar. 

They added graphene oxide to the cement used as a binder in 3D-printed concrete. After experimenting with different amounts, it was found that when graphene oxide was added at a dosage of 0.015% the weight of the cement, the resulting concrete exhibited better inter-layer bonding. This boost produced a 10% increase in overall strength.

First Graphene has completed the second phase of its graphene-enhanced cement trials, alongside the UK’s largest cement producer Breedon Cement. The first phase demonstrated a 15% reduction in carbon emissions and 10% increase in cement strength, reinforcing graphene-enhanced cement as a lower-carbon solution for construction companies around the world. The material made during the Phase One trials also successfully met performance criteria in the end systems, demonstrating the viability of producing graphene-enhanced cement at industrial scale.

The Phase Two trials used four tonnes of grinding aid containing PureGRAPH® to produce an additional 600 tonnes of graphene-enhanced cement at the production scale. The focus was on the optimization of dosing methods at an increased graphene loading level, with the resulting formulation change in the grinding aid. This stage builds on the learnings from earlier work, with results expected in January 2024 which will be used to compare performance to the Phase One trials.

First Graphene has announced it has entered a Joint Development and Commercialization Agreement with the UK’s largest cement manufacturer, Breedon Group at their Hope Cement Works in the Peak District National Park.

The agreement will facilitate First Graphene’s development of a range of graphene-enhanced solutions to reduce the clinker factor of Breedon’s cement and as a result reduce its carbon emissions footprint.

First Graphene has announced positive results from the first phase of the Company’s graphene enhanced cement trials in the United Kingdom.
Approximately 600 tonnes of graphene enhanced cement was produced at the UK's largest cement processing facility, operated by Breedon Cement. Graphene was consistently dosed and dispersed into a cement grinding mill using standard process equipment.

It was reported that during the production trials, the PureGRAPH® enhanced grinding aid performed adeptly, maintaining a consistent and highly stable feed. The operating conditions remained unchanged during the dispersion of graphene, and the cement produced conformed with Breedon’s strict
quality control parameters.

Concretene has announced three successful UK government funding bids, two through Innovate UK, totaling £1.18 million (around USD$1,430,000), and one through EPSRC and the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Materials for £79,000 (about USD$95,000).

The product – a graphene-enhanced admixture for concrete that reduces embodied carbon – is being developed for commercial roll-out by Nationwide Engineering Research & Development and The University of Manchester. The grant awards relate to Concretene’s core research program, from raw material supply through to construction applications.

Researchers from the University of Surrey have developed a new thermo-active road solution that could help prevent potholes caused by freezing and thawing in the winter. A new project that will test this new approach has been awarded a £800,000 research fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering. The outcomes could improve how major roads across the United Kingdom are maintained and upgraded, even as climate change increases the challenge of keeping them fit for purpose.  

As part of this five-year research project, the Surrey team will work with advanced materials engineering company Versarien to develop a new graphene-enhanced microcapsule to dig into the soil beneath the surface when roads are resurfaced to improve heat conduction and storage.

Bio Graphene Solutions (BGS) has announced a strategic partnership with Brook Restoration, one of the largest structural restoration companies in Canada.

The strategic partnership will enable Brook to leverage BGS’s graphene-enhanced liquid admixture for concrete products in building and public infrastructure projects in Ontario. Brook has also made a strategic investment in BGS’s current financing - further solidifying Brook’s commitment to innovation and sustainability within the construction space.

Today we have published the latest edition of our Graphene Construction Materials Market market report, a comprehensive guide to the world of graphene-enhanced construction materials. The edition, now updated to August 2023, includes several new updates, trials, and project involved in this exciting and promising market.

Reading this report, you'll learn all about:

• The advantages of using graphene in construction materials
• Companies involved in this industry
• Projects and trials underway today
• Research activities

The report package also provides:

• Datasheets and brochures from leading companies
• A look into how graphene can reduce carbon emissions
• A look into Chinese graphene construction materials projects
• Free updates for a year

This Graphene Construction Materials market report provides a great introduction to graphene materials used in the construction industry. It is a must-read guide for anyone interested in understanding the current market, mapping the companies involved and evaluating the future of the construction industry.

The Oxfordshire County Council's highways team and its contractor, Milestone Infrastructure, are testing graphene-enhanced Gipave road surface in a village near Chipping Norton. On a 725-meter stretch of North Street in Middle Barton.

This trial is the third in Oxfordshire, and sees an adjacent length of road resurfaced using conventional asphalt so that the two surfaces can be compared.