Concretene

Concretene is a concrete alternative that blends concrete with graphene.

The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) at The University of Manchester and Nationwide Engineering have created a product known as Concretene, a graphene-enhanced concrete. Concretene has been designed for use in the construction industry for cementitious products, in particular concrete, to provide a viable CO2 reduction technology that can be adopted internationally with minimal change to existing processes.

Concretene has the potential to transform the construction industry – one of the biggest contributors to global CO2 levels - and to help the UK establish leadership in advanced materials for the built environment. This follows breakthrough research by Manchester engineers who added tiny amounts of graphene to concrete and have demonstrated at commercial scale with industry partners Nationwide Engineering that this allows for removal of up to 30% of material from a build project without impacting on its strength or integrity. This means Concretene is not only greener but also cheaper to use.

Concrete sets from liquid to solid through chemical reactions of hydration and gelation, where water and cement react to form a paste that dries and hardens over time. Graphene acts as a mechanical support and as a catalyst surface for the initial hydration reaction, for improved microscopic bonding, improved strength, durability and corrosion resistance.

Manufacturers say 1kg of Concretene in 10 tonnes of concrete drives down emissions by:

• Enabling up to a 30% reduction in the volume of concrete required.
• Elimination or reduction of steel reinforcement.
• Reducing cement content of the concrete by up to 50%.

With performance and costs gains that include:

• Significant improved early tensile shear capacity.
• Rapid early compressive strength gain.
• Reduced porosity and permeability enhancing durability, water and fire resistance.
• Longer lifespan & reduced maintenance.
• Reduces the overall construction costs for projects by 10-20% through material and prelim savings.
• Can be used in >99% of concretes worldwide.

For further information visit https://www.nationwideengineering.co.uk/concretene/

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