The Problem:
Current approaches to developing sustainable construction materials often fall short in balancing environmental benefits with performance requirements. Traditional supplementary cementitious materials may not provide the desired mechanical strength or durability, limiting their applicability in demanding environments. Many industrial wastes also contain essential chemical components for cementitious materials, making them ideal candidates for recycling. Simultaneously, there is a growing demand for smart and multifunctional building materials, however these methods currently rely on separate additives or embedded sensor networks, which can be costly, complex to integrate, and prone to long-term degradation.
The Solution:
Researchers at the University of Alabama have developed a method for producing a carbon-negative supplementary cementitious material enhanced with in-situ grown carbon nanotubes (CNT) made from recycled industrial waste. CNTs can automatically distribute themselves by attaching to the larger particles in the concrete, requiring no additional effort. The integrated CNTs improve mechanical properties such as tensile strength and crack resistance while providing electrical and thermal conductivity. This conductivity enables functionalities like self-heating, electromagnetic interference protection, and potential energy storage applications.
Benefits:
·Valorization of iron-rich industrial wastes into high-performance supplementary cementitious material
·Enhances mechanical properties including tensile strength and crack resistance and incorporates self-sensing functionality for structural health monitoring
·Carbon-negative production process that sequesters carbon and generates clean hydrogen fuel
Patent Pending
