Research develops climate-friendly alternative to cement
Holcim is participating in the development of cement-free concrete alongside European universities and research institutes. The aim of the European C-SINK project is to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the production of building materials.
The production of cement as a binding agent for concrete accounts for 8 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions. Researchers from various European universities and institutes are working under the leadership of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany to develop alternatives to cement. According to a press release, the Zug-based building materials manufacturer Holcim is involved in this research work as part of the European C-SINK project.
The research focuses on magnesium-containing silicates, which react with CO₂ to form magnesium carbonate in a targeted, accelerated mineralisation process. This additive could be the new binder for concrete, replacing Portland cement clinker. The material is currently being tested in the KIT laboratories with the participation of all parties involved. This involves close integration of simulation, experimental research and large-scale, realistic testing at the Materials Testing Institute in Karlsruhe. “We can use simulations and machine learning to predict which concrete formulations will work,” says Frank Dehn, head of the Institute for Solid Construction and Building Materials Technology and the Karlsruhe Materials Testing and Research Institute at KIT, quoted in the press release. “We then use experiments in a targeted manner to verify these predictions. In this way, we want to develop reliable parameters that show that concrete with the new binder is climate-friendly and meets the requirements for load-bearing capacity, durability and safety.”
The project is funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) as part of the Pathfinder programme “Towards cement and concrete as a carbon sink”. In addition to KIT and the coordinating PAEBBL AB (Sweden), the Technical University of Delft (Netherlands), the Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium), the Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and PREFABRICADOS TECNYCONTA S.L. (both Spain) are also involved, with support from Holcim Technology. The project is funded with 4 million euros over a period of four years.