High-performance carbonatable cementitious systems: novel materials and processing methods
type: CreativeWork
description: Production of carbonatable cementitious materials (CCMs) using mineral carbonation has been considered one of the sustainable approaches for addressing the anthropogenic CO2 emissions because of their potential to absorb environmental carbon dioxide (CO2) to form stable, durable, and environmentally friendly carbonate materials. Despite a wealth of literacy and the major technological developments related to CCMs in recent decades, the expanded use of these eco-friendly materials depends on addressing their fundamental limitations (i.e., chemical, physical, and processing barriers). The overall objective of this research is to develop novel materials and processing methods to address the key limitations of CCMs systematically. In Phase I of this study, the depth-dependent limitation of the external CO2 curing process was addressed by developing an internal carbonation acceleration process using impregnated hydrogels with enzymatic solution. The depth-dependent limitation becomes more pronounced in large-scale concrete members that may require longer carbonation time and higher CO2 pressures. CCMs with enzymatic solution-impregnated hydrogels in the presence of external CO2 have better mechanical (up to 80% improvement compared to control CCMs) and durability performance, and the calcium carbonate precipitation can reach up to 15 times higher compared to control systems (approaching the maximum theoretical degree of carbonation of the binder). The developed CO2 curing process provides a uniform carbonation profile through depth, which is crucial in upscaling CCM systems. In Phase II, hydrogels impregnated with amino acid salt (AAS) solutions were incorporated into CCMs to evaluate their potential for CO2 curing. The AAS solutions facilitate CO2 capture through the formation of carbamate and bicarbonate ions within the interior of the cementitious matrix. A comprehensive set of multiscale experimental techniques was employed to evaluate the effects of the impregnated …
abstract: Production of carbonatable cementitious materials (CCMs) using mineral carbonation has been considered one of the sustainable approaches for addressing the anthropogenic CO2 emissions because of their potential to absorb environmental carbon dioxide (CO2) to form stable, durable, and environmentally friendly carbonate materials. Despite a wealth of literacy and the major technological developments related to CCMs in recent decades, the expanded use of these eco-friendly materials depends on addressing their fundamental limitations (i.e., chemical, physical, and processing barriers). The overall objective of this research is to develop novel materials and processing methods to address the key limitations of CCMs systematically. In Phase I of this study, the depth-dependent limitation of the external CO2 curing process was addressed by developing an internal carbonation acceleration process using impregnated hydrogels with enzymatic solution. The depth-dependent limitation becomes more pronounced in large-scale concrete members that may require longer carbonation time and higher CO2 pressures. CCMs with enzymatic solution-impregnated hydrogels in the presence of external CO2 have better mechanical (up to 80% improvement compared to control CCMs) and durability performance, and the calcium carbonate precipitation can reach up to 15 times higher compared to control systems (approaching the maximum theoretical degree of carbonation of the binder). The developed CO2 curing process provides a uniform carbonation profile through depth, which is crucial in upscaling CCM systems. In Phase II, hydrogels impregnated with amino acid salt (AAS) solutions were incorporated into CCMs to evaluate their potential for CO2 curing. The AAS solutions facilitate CO2 capture through the formation of carbamate and bicarbonate ions within the interior of the cementitious matrix. A comprehensive set of multiscale experimental techniques was employed to evaluate the effects of the impregnated …
author: Fahim, Abdullah Al
language: eng
keywords: Civil engineering, Calcium silicate binder, Carbonatable cementitious materials, CO2 sequestration, Concrete 3D printing, Hydrogels, Sustainability
license: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
date published: 2026-05
date modified: 2026-07-27T21:21:50Z
provider: Temple University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Temple University. Libraries