Graphene enhanced concrete sleeper for lower embodied carbon

石墨烯增强混凝土轨枕可降低碳含量

• 批准号: 10061093
• 金额: $ 3.01万
• 依托单位: NATIONWIDE RAIL LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Collaborative R&D
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=10061093
• 关键词: Graphene; enhanced; concrete; sleeper; lower

In the UK, ageing infrastructure and population growth are increasing demand for concrete, not least in the rail sector; where 20,000 miles of new track are needed.The production of cement (concrete's binding agent) releases CO2 as a direct by-product of CaCO3 calcination. These direct emissions, in combination with indirect process-emissions (transport, process energy etc), represent a staggering 8-10% of global emissions.The concrete sector has undertaken substantial efforts towards decarbonisation already; however, a second-phase of more ambitious decarbonisation is urgently needed in order to meet UK climate targets.This project vision directly addresses this urgent decarbonisation need through the development of novel graphene-enhanced concrete (GEC) materials for load-bearing sleeper applications. Our method of graphene dosing delivers a 50% improvement in mechanical strength. In addition, a combination of reduced concrete volume, reduced cement content and reduction in amount of steel reinforcement needed (thanks to the superior mechanical performance) will reduce total carbon-footprint by up to 50%.Key Objectives:1. To review our current admixture formulations with high graphene loading for compatibility with sleeper concrete mix designs, prescribed to Network Rail standards.2. To define optimum admixture dosing into concrete sleepers (with graphene content of concrete remaining <0.1wt%).3. Prove the science in sleeper trials at Phase 2 stage to demonstrate the benefits for sleeper applications.Whilst other GECs are in development, most emerging technologies are not suitable for structural applications. Those GEC products that aim to target structural applications are struggling to overcome the challenge of dispersing graphene nano-platelets (GNPs) within cement. Existing approaches result in the incorporation of excess air into concrete's microstructure, severely limiting structural performance. We have overcome the dispersion challenge, enabling 5x greater graphene-loading than the state-of-the-art, with uniform dispersion, and no excess air entrainment.Network-Rail, infrastructure manager of the UK rail-network, are not included in the grant consortium, but will be early technology adopters, providing a clear route to market. In addition, we are on the steering group for the development of the forthcoming new sleeper standard, which will be re-written to encourage low embodied carbon products to be used in sleepers.

在英国，日益老化的基础设施和人口增长正在增加对混凝土的需求，尤其是在铁路部门，那里需要2万英里的新轨道。水泥(混凝土的粘结剂)的生产释放出二氧化碳，作为碳酸钙煅烧的直接副产品。这些直接排放，加上间接过程排放(运输、过程能源等)，占全球排放量的8%-10%，令人震惊。混凝土行业已经在脱碳方面做出了大量努力；然而，为了满足英国的气候目标，迫切需要更雄心勃勃的脱碳第二阶段。该项目愿景通过开发用于承重枕木应用的新型石墨烯增强混凝土(GEC)材料，直接满足了这种迫切的脱碳需求。我们的石墨烯投加法可将机械强度提高50%。此外，混凝土体积的减少、水泥含量的减少和所需钢筋数量的减少(得益于优异的机械性能)将使总碳足迹减少高达50%。主要目标：1.审查我们目前高石墨烯含量的外加剂配方，以与Network Rail标准规定的轨枕混凝土配合比设计兼容。确定混凝土轨枕的最佳外加剂用量(混凝土的石墨烯含量为0.1wt%)。在第二阶段的枕木试验中证明科学，以证明枕木应用的好处。尽管其他GEC正在开发中，但大多数新兴技术不适合结构应用。那些以结构应用为目标的GEC产品正在努力克服在水泥中分散石墨烯纳米片层(GNP)的挑战。现有的方法导致在混凝土的微观结构中加入过量的空气，严重限制了结构性能。我们克服了弥散挑战，实现了比最先进的石墨烯负载量高5倍，分散均匀，没有多余的空气夹带。英国铁路网的基础设施管理公司Network-Rail不包括在赠款财团中，但将成为早期技术采用者，提供一条明确的进入市场的途径。此外，我们正在指导制定即将出台的新枕木标准，该标准将被重写，以鼓励在枕木中使用低碳产品。