THE PROBLEM
Concrete is the most used artificial material in the world, with about 10 billion tons being produced each year. Unfortunately, its popularity comes with the significant environmental cost of producing approximately 8% of all carbon dioxide emissions worldwide. As more focus is placed on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and aligning with the Paris Agreement on climate change, the concrete industry will need to reduce its emissions by at least 16% by 2030. With this in mind, there is an urgent need to find a greener, more sustainable method to produce more durable concrete.
THE SOLUTION
Researchers at The University of Alabama have developed a low-cost concrete admixture that uses naturally occurring acidic products to improve compressive strength. The formula also inhibits corrosion of reinforced steel, adds antibacterial function to mortars, and enhances the bonding of new concrete on older existing layers. Testing shows increases the compressive strength of concrete by 20%-70% depending on the usage of other nanoparticles such as nanosilica or nanoclay.
Tannin Compound
Concrete Samples Made with Tannin Acid
BENEFITS
- Materials are abundant, renewable, & on-toxic
- More cost-efficient than existing materials
- Substantial increases in compressive strength
- Easy to implement into existing systems
- Decreases project time
- Increases lifetime of concrete structures
The University of Alabama Research Office of Innovation and Commercialization (OIC) is a non-profit corporation that is responsible for commercializing University of Alabama technologies and for supporting University research. At OIC, we seek parties that are interested in learning more about our technologies and commercialization opportunities, and we welcome any inquiries you may have.
