CONCRETE ALTERNATIVES
Graphene-Infused Concrete Graphene Is a lightweight , flexible semimetal that is 200 times stronger than steel . This material is also near impermeable , and its addition to concrete makes it twice as strong and four times more water resistant than normal concrete . As grapheneinfused concrete is stronger than regular concrete , half the amount is needed to complete construction projects , reducing carbon emissions during the concrete production process .
Root Vegetables Could one solution lie in beetroots and carrots ? Scientists add nanoplatelets taken from vegetable fibers to cement to increase the amount of calcium silicate hydrate in the mix . Adding more of this compound makes the concrete stronger and denser . Because this concrete is stronger and more durable , less is needed to complete construction projects . As an added bonus , using vegetable nanoplatelets is cheaper than additives such as graphene .
Coal Waste Researchers have also developed ways to make concrete with coal fly ash . When using this material , the concrete doesn ’ t need to be heated , nor cement added . Not only does using coal fly ash cut down on the concrete production processes that create CO2 emissions , but it also prevents this byproduct from ending up in landfills .
Green options Straw bales Biofuel waste , grasscrete , ashcrete , hempcrete , bamboo , recycled plastic , wood , mycelium and ferrock are all being explored as alternatives to concrete .
49 constructionglobal . com