Construction materials - Page 10

A team of researchers at the Rice University lab of chemist James Tour has designed a ‘Green’ process that produces pristine graphene in bulk using waste food, plastic and other materials. According to the team, this process can help facilitate a reduction of the environmental impact of concrete and other building materials.

The new process can turn bulk quantities of just about any carbon source into graphene flakes. The process is quick and cheap; Tour said the flash graphene technique can convert a ton of coal, food waste or plastic into graphene for a fraction of the cost used by other bulk graphene-producing methods.

Directa Plus has announced that it is planning to launch a trial of graphene-enhanced asphalt at an international airport.

The six month trial would take place at Rome's Fiumicino airport on taxiway Alpha Alpha, a high traffic taxiway used for class E and F intercontinental aircraft such as Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s, the company said.

Graphene Flagship partners the University of Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, CNR, NEST, Italcementi HeidelbergCement Group, the Israel Institute of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the University of Cambridge have developed a graphene-titania photocatalyst that degrades up to 70% more atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NOx) than standard titania nanoparticles in tests on real pollutants.

To address the problem of atmospheric pollution, researchers worldwide are on the hunt for new ways to remove pollutants from the atmosphere, and photocatalysts such as titania are a good way to do this. When titania is exposed to sunlight, it degrades nitrogen oxides which are very harmful to human health and volatile organic compounds present at the surface, oxidizing them into inert or harmless products.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Directa Plus and Skanska are getting ready a trial of re-surfacing a section of a UK road in Curbridge, Oxfordshire with materials containing G+ graphene substance. Now, Skanska has mentioned that it is also in talks to trial the graphene-enhanced asphalt on the UK's M25.

The Curbridge works, which were delivered by subcontractor Aggregate Industries, involved removal and reinstatement of the existing carriageway to a depth of 150mm over a 750m-long section. One lane was replaced using conventional materials, while the opposite ‘trial’ lane was resurfaced using the asphalt enhanced by the innovative asphalt modifier.

GrapheneCA has reported that it is the sole provider for all of the graphene being used in a major commercial construction project that makes use of the miracle material currently underway in Mexico.

The Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI is being built 200 kilometers away from Cancún

In a statement, the privately-owned graphene supplier and manufacturer, said the new convention center, Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI, which is being built 200 kilometers away from Cancún, relies on concrete enhanced by GrapheneCA’s 99.7% carbon pure graphene in its entirety.

GrapheneCA recently introduced a new product line called Original Graphene (OG). OG Concrete Admix, aimed at the retail concrete industry, reportedly imbues cement with graphene’s superior properties to make it stronger, lighter, and more resistant.

GrapheneCA’s focus on a price-sensitive application is said to lead to taller, faster, lighter, and more durable constructions overall, with the added benefit of being eco-friendly. The launch of Original Graphene Cement admix targets multiple improvements in cement from a single additive reducing cracking, improving strength and weather resistance to build structures that last.

Global infrastructure services firm Aecom is reportedly developing one of the UK’s first 3D-printed commercial products made from graphene-reinforced polymer.

The CNCTArch is being tested in Bristol (Photo from Aecom)

Aecom has produced a graphene arch using additive manufacturing techniques. It believes the method could reduce the time and cost of installing digital signalling systems and transform the digitization of transport networks. The 4.5-meter high, lightweight arch is being tested on outdoor track at Network Rail’s workforce development center in Bristol.

GrapheneCA, graphene producer and developer of graphene-based technology for industries and consumers, has announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Apis Cor to develop a 3D printing system capable of printing graphene materials.

GrapheneCA and its partner Apis Cor, a developer of specialized concrete 3D printing equipment, are discussing a future co-operation in which GrapheneCA will design an extruder and mixing system that can be embedded into Apis Cor’s 3D printer. Together, the two companies are expecting to develop a 3D printing system capable of printing graphene material.

Highways England, a government responsible for motorways and major A roads, has partnered with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (GEIC), in order to use graphene to address challenges experienced by the road network in England, such as the deterioration of surfaces. Highways England believes adding graphene into maintenance and renewals operations has the potential to extend asset life and make the network perform at an industry changing level.

The partnership will explore the operational and road user benefit of incorporating graphene into assets such as road surfacing and road markings, as well as help to drive the development of a low carbon and digital road network.

Zen Graphene Solutions recently announced that it has been awarded a $1,000,000 CAD (around $742,600 USD) grant that will accelerate ZEN’s graphene-enhanced concrete research and development project.

According to Zen, the grant may potentially help achieve the goal to provide cement-based composite products to the Ontario market by possibly early 2020. The grantor will reimburse 50% up to a maximum of $1,000,000 spent by ZEN on relevant expenses directly related to graphite purification, graphene production research, concrete additive research and large-scale graphene-enhanced concrete testing.