From Manufacturing to Implementation- Reducing the Environmental Impact of Concrete

在过去的二十年里，从材料选择和制造到创新混凝土产品的实施，混凝土行业一直在努力实现绿色环保。混凝土建筑材料的创新具有解决几个紧迫的全球环境问题的强大潜力。这项研究计划的重点是开发创新的混凝土材料和制造工艺，以减轻空气污染、雨水径流、碳排放和能源需求带来的负面影响。本研究计划探讨光催化混凝土、透水混凝土和预制混凝土的性能、生产工艺和长期耐久性。特别是，该研究项目的成果将为以下方面提供新的知识：(i)暴露在加拿大寒冷冬季气候下的光催化混凝土和透水材料的长期性能；（ii）光催化反应产物的物理和化学特性及其对土壤和地下水污染等二级系统的影响；（iii）优化使用水泥替代材料和改进预制混凝土制造工艺的协同效应，从而生产出更坚固的预制混凝土产品，减少对环境的影响。本研究项目为期五年，将有6名高素质人才参与，其中博士2名，硕士2名，本科2名。HQP将获得使用最先进仪器的经验，参与混凝土技术的前沿突破，并将与行业专业人士进行互动。这些HQP将形成加拿大下一代混凝土材料科学家，并将继续帮助保持加拿大在该领域的优势。

Over the past two decades efforts have been made to green the concrete industry from material selection and manufacturing to the implementation of innovative concrete products. Innovations in concrete building materials have strong potential to address several pressing global environmental problems. The focus of this proposed research program is aimed to develop innovative concrete materials and manufacturing processes to mitigate negative impacts corresponding to air pollution, storm water runoff, carbon emissions and energy demands. This proposed research program examines the properties, production processes and long term durability of photocatalytic concrete, pervious concrete and precast concrete. In particular, outcomes from this research program will contribute new knowledge on: (i) the long term performance of photocatalytic concrete and pervious exposed to Canada's cold winter climate, (ii) physical and chemical characterization of photocatalytic reaction products and their implications on secondary systems such as soil and ground water contamination, and (iii) optimizing the synergistic effect of using cement replacement materials along with a modified precast concrete manufacturing process leading to a more robust precast concrete product with reduced environmental impacts. This five-year research program will involve 6 highly qualified personnel including 2 PhD, 2 MASc, and 2 undergraduate researchers. The HQP will gain experience of using state-of-the-art instrumentation, be involved in leading-edge breakthroughs in concrete technologies, and will interact with industry professionals. These HQP will form the next generation of Canada's concrete material scientists and will move on to help maintain Canada's superiority in this field.