How we could make carbon-negative concrete

[dexter]

Concrete is all around us: we use it to build our roads, buildings, bridges and much more. Yet over the last 2,000 years, the art of mixing cement and using it to bind concrete hasn't changed very much -- and it remains one of the world's biggest emitters of carbon. Entrepreneur Tom Schuler previews an innovative way to create concrete, potentially turning it into a carbon sink that traps CO2 from the atmosphere -- while producing a viable building material.

 

[RealNapster]

Concrete is all around us: we use it to build our roads, buildings, bridges and much more. Yet over the last 2,000 years, the art of mixing cement and using it to bind concrete hasn't changed very much -- and it remains one of the world's biggest emitters of carbon. Entrepreneur Tom Schuler previews an innovative way to create concrete, potentially turning it into a carbon sink that traps CO2 from the atmosphere -- while producing a viable building material.

I like the idea, it's promising. It's definitely going to change the shape of the industry. But the statement that nothing was done/changed in last 2000 years is factually incorrect. You have flowing concrete, self healing concrete and concrete (for parents) which absorb the rain water and drain it.

On the front of carbon emission yes the emissions are 8%, 4 years ago the contribution was just 7%. But Civil engineers and researchers worked in this side too. I did my thesis on the use of ternary blends to replace 10-42.5% of Cement to be used in concrete with other naturally occuring materials with cementitious properties like Silica fume and bentonite clay. Results with 30% replacement were really promising on durability and strength front.

Btw engineers are also experimenting on different waste materials and their possible use in concreting and pavements , example of roads made of plastic bottles waste is a good case study.