Graphene is light, super strong and can lessen the carbon footprint of cement. In this installment of Tech Trends, BCMI’s Craig Yeack discusses how one company—Graphene Ltd.—has developed a graphene-enhanced grinding agent for clinker. Cement clinker is a solid material that is formed by sintering (fusing together without melting to the point of liquefaction) limestone and a second material that contains clay as a source of aluminosilicate. Sintering is energy-intensive, making it responsible for much of portland cement’s heavy carbon footprint. Initial work by Graphene Ltd. has shown that adding a small amount of graphene via a grinding agent to clinker reduces the grinding time (energy) by approximately 15 percent and increases the compressive and tensile strength of the end product: concrete. Viable commercial applications are currently being trialed and, says Yeack, if graphene in portland cement proves to work as early research indicates, they nailed it. Tech Trends is a monthly column published in Concrete Products magazine. Read More.
