Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 10:54:09 GMT -5
Yo, Walter, have you heard of this stuff?
Graphene-reinforced concrete is "more than twice as strong" say scientists
www.dezeen.com/2018/05/03/graphene-reinforced-concrete-stronger-university-of-exeter-scientists/
May 3, 2018
UK scientists have found a way to incorporate wonder-material graphene into concrete, greatly increasing the material's strength and water resistance.
According to researchers at the University of Exeter, the composite material is "more than twice as strong and four times more water-resistant than existing concretes".
The technique developed by the scientists uses nano-engineering technology to suspend atomically thin shards of graphene in the water that is used when mixing concrete.
This process requires less material than a tradition manufacturing process. This drastically reducing the material's carbon footprint, resulting in a concrete that is not only strong, but also more sustainable.
Molecular structure of graphene
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern. Image courtesy of University of Manchester
Monica Craciun, professor of engineering at the University of Exeter, believes the innovation will be "an absolute game-changer" for the architecture and construction industries.
"Not only is it stronger and more durable, but it is also more resistant to water, making it uniquely suitable for construction in areas that require maintenance work and are difficult to be accessed," she said.
"Yet perhaps more importantly, by including graphene we can reduce the amount of materials required to make concrete by around 50 per cent – leading to a significant reduction of 446 kilograms per tonne of the carbon emissions," she continued.
"This unprecedented range of functionalities and properties uncovered are an important step in encouraging a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly construction industry worldwide."
Graphene-reinforced concrete is "more than twice as strong" say scientists
www.dezeen.com/2018/05/03/graphene-reinforced-concrete-stronger-university-of-exeter-scientists/
May 3, 2018
UK scientists have found a way to incorporate wonder-material graphene into concrete, greatly increasing the material's strength and water resistance.
According to researchers at the University of Exeter, the composite material is "more than twice as strong and four times more water-resistant than existing concretes".
The technique developed by the scientists uses nano-engineering technology to suspend atomically thin shards of graphene in the water that is used when mixing concrete.
This process requires less material than a tradition manufacturing process. This drastically reducing the material's carbon footprint, resulting in a concrete that is not only strong, but also more sustainable.
Molecular structure of graphene
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern. Image courtesy of University of Manchester
Monica Craciun, professor of engineering at the University of Exeter, believes the innovation will be "an absolute game-changer" for the architecture and construction industries.
"Not only is it stronger and more durable, but it is also more resistant to water, making it uniquely suitable for construction in areas that require maintenance work and are difficult to be accessed," she said.
"Yet perhaps more importantly, by including graphene we can reduce the amount of materials required to make concrete by around 50 per cent – leading to a significant reduction of 446 kilograms per tonne of the carbon emissions," she continued.
"This unprecedented range of functionalities and properties uncovered are an important step in encouraging a more sustainable, environmentally-friendly construction industry worldwide."
