Characterization of carbonate reaction products from CO2 utilization in concrete

全球二氧化碳排放量的很大一部分是由水泥生产产生的。因此，CarbonCure Technologies一直致力于在混凝土产品制造中使用二氧化碳（CO2），以便在提供可持续性和改善机械性能的产品中有利地利用这些排放物。然而，CO2与水化水泥的反应机制尚未完全了解，因此这些产品的优化和使用无法向前推进。该项目与CarbonCure Technologies合作，将寻求表征和理解在具有高化学和空间敏感性的不同粘合剂系统中观察到的碳酸盐反应产物。特别地，通过使用原子探针断层扫描（其仅在加拿大的麦克马斯特大学可用），可以进行三维成像。 可以在原子长度尺度上生成碳酸盐反应组分的图。对这种先进技术获得的数据进行解释将得出有关产品位置、形态和成分的结论，从而有助于更深入地了解CO2对混凝土强度和凝固时间的影响。这项工作将使公司能够解释他们目前面临的相互矛盾的机械强度数据，从而优化制造工艺。对加拿大经济和环境的好处是显而易见的;对反应机制的更深入了解将使CarbonCure能够扩大其预制和预拌混凝土产品的市场，同时减轻和增加有害二氧化碳排放的捕获能力。

A significant portion of global carbon dioxide emissions is generated by the manufacture of cement. As such, CarbonCure Technologies has pursued the industrial use of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the manufacture of concrete products in order to beneficially utilize these emissions in products that offer sustainability and improved mechanical properties. However, the reaction mechanisms of CO2 with hydrating cement are not fully understood, and therefore the optimization and use of these products cannot move forward. This project, in collaboration with CarbonCure Technologies, will seek to characterize and understand the carbonate reaction products observed in different binder systems with high chemical and spatial sensitivity. In particular, by using Atom Probe Tomography (which is only available in Canada at McMaster University), a three-dimensional map of the carbonate reaction components can be generated on the atomic length scale. Interpretation of the data acquired in this advanced technique will formulate conclusions about the product location, morphology and composition, thereby contributing to deeper understanding of the impact of CO2 on concrete strength and setting time. This work will enable the company to interpret the conflicting mechanical strength data they are faced with presently, leading to optimization of the manufacturing process. The benefits to the Canadian economy and environment are clear; a deeper understanding of the reaction mechanisms will enableCarbonCure to expand their market of precast and ready-mix cementious products on the market, while mitigating and increasing the capture capacity of harmful CO2 emissions.