Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure

Recreating construction materials for high durabilty and eco-efficiency

Materials for Sustainable Energy

Developing low-cost materials for energy  conversion and storage

Materials for Sustainable Environment

Designing functional materials for environmental remediation

Research Products

Developing geopolymers for water treatment

The geopolymer—an inorganic polymeric material synthesized from the reaction of aluminosilicate precursors and alkaline activating solutions—has gained wide research attention in recent decades as a promising adsorbent for the removal of aqueous heavy metals. However, the high variability of the material and several unanswered questions have limited its development and general adoption in the industry. This study evaluates the impacts of composition and microstructure on the performance of geopolymers for aqueous lead (Pb) removal to elucidate the composition–structure–property relationship…

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Research Products

Optimizing the rheological and mechanical properties of cement paste 

Chemical admixtures are often added to concentrated cementitious suspensions in an effort to adjust their (1) rheology, i.e., yield stress and viscosity; (2) time of set, i.e., when plasticity is lost; and (3) hardening rate. Although the first adjustment is affected by dosage of dispersants, the subsequent two adjustments are made by dosing chemical additives that alter the binder’s reaction rate. To ensure desirable field performance, e.g., at subambient temperatures, dispersants and reaction rate enhancers may be dosed simultaneously. In such cases, it is critical to ensure that the dosed additives are compatible with each other. To assess such admixture compatibility and synergy, an original rheology-based method is developed. 

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Research Products

Elucidating the phase relations in cement systems

Phase relations of C3AH6 and Ca3Al2(SiO4)x(OH)4(3 − x) at sulfate and carbonate activities conditioned respectively by (gypsum and SO4-AFt) and (calcite and CO3-AFt) have been determined experimentally in the range 5–85 °C. The results confirm the instability of Si-free hydrogarnet with carbonate and sulfate-bearing cement phases, but do indicate that a range of silica-substituted hydrogarnet solid solutions are stable under conditions likely to be encountered in blended cement systems…

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Research Products

Designing multifunctional LDH-based nanocomposites

Calcium–alumino layered-double-hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites of the alumino–ferrite monosubstituent subgroup hosting alkyl sulfates and poly(ethylene glycol) were synthesized by coprecipitation over the temperature range 5–75 °C. The stability of these nanocomposites was examined following exposure to aqueous solutions conditioned to a range of concentrations of intercalant anions including sulfate, carbonate, chloride, and phosphate. Careful analysis of these “organic–inorganic” nanocomposites reveals that their gallery (interlayer) spacing can vary, and the gallery height is controlled by the chain length (size) and orientation of the surfactant substituents, where, expectedly, anionic surfactants intercalate more robustly than nonionic surfactants…

Research Products

Predicting mineral phase assemblange by  thermodynamic modeling and focused experiments

  Cementitious binders are often used to immobilize industrial wastes such as residues of coal combustion. Such immobilization stabilizes wastes that contain contaminants by chemical containment, i.e., by uptake of contaminants into the cementitious reaction products. Expectedly, the release (“leachability”) of contaminants is linked to: (i) the stability of the matrix (i.e., its resistance to decomposition on exposure to water), and, (ii) its porosity, which offers a pathway for the intrusion of water and egress of contaminant species. To examine the effects of the matrix chemistry on its suitability for immobilization, an equilibrium thermodynamics-based approach is demonstrated for cementitious formulations based on: ordinary portland cement (OPC), calcium aluminate cement (CAC) and alkali activated fly ash (AFA) binding agents…

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Research Products

Capturing and utilizing CO2 in construction materials

The production of ordinary portland cement (OPC) is a CO2 intensive process. Specifically, OPC clinkering reactions not only require substantial energy in the form of heat, but they also result in the release of CO2; i.e., from both the decarbonation of limestone and the combustion of fuel to provide heat. To create alternatives to this CO2 intensive process, this paper demonstrates a new route for clinkering-free cementation by the carbonation of fly ash; i.e., a by-product of coal combustion. It is shown that in moist environments and at sub-boiling temperatures, Ca-rich fly ashes react readily with gas-phase CO2 to produce robustly cemented solids.

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