Docket #: S19-518
High quality, low carbon cement
Stanford researchers have developed a high-quality cement with a 70% reduction in CO2 emissions with no upcycling. Cement is the second most consumed resource in the world, accounts for 8% of the world's CO2 emissions, is tough to recycle, and has a lifetime of about 50-100 years or less. In response, the Rocks and Geomaterials Laboratory at Stanford has engineered a low to near-to-zero carbon footprint cement clinker through a cement-processing technique that replaces limestone with carbon-free volcanic rocks and mimics how fibrous microstructures effectively reinforce rocks. The new process significantly slashes carbon dioxide emissions during manufacturing allowing for reductions of 70% of CO2 emissions, and can potentially increase durability.
Stage of Research
Researchers are in the prototype phase and testing the properties.
Related Dockets
24-282
Applications
- Hydraulic cement construction particularly suited to harsh environments:
- Areas that experience seismic ground shaking
- Wellbore casings subject to injection of CO2, acid fluids, or re-injection of wastewater fracking
- Planetary shelters and habitats of tomorrow
Advantages
- 70% reduction in CO2 emissions without relying on carbon upcycling:
- Pyroprocessing of this alternative raw material leads to no carbon footprint
- No need to build new cement plants for carbon capture and sequestration
- Exceptional physico-chemical properties making it suited to harsh environments:
- High compressive strength
- Expanded durability - naturally reinforced, binds well, and absorbs strain energy (seismic shaking)
- High thermal stability
- High chemical resilience and resistant to acid fluids - minimal alkali-silica reaction (ASR) expected due of the lack of silica in the clinker
Publications
- Stanford Office of Technology Licensing Annual Report, Fiscal Year 2022: Low Carbon, Resilient Cement
- Vanorio T., and W. Kanitpanyacharoen, (2015). Rock Physics of Fibrous Rocks Akin to Roman Concrete Explains Uplifts at Campi Flegrei Caldera. SCIENCE, vol. 349 no. 6248 pp. 617-621. Paper featured on the cover of SCIENCE.
- Vanorio T., J. Chung, and S. Siman Tov, A. Nur, (2023). Hydrothermal Formation of Fibrous Mineral Structures: The Role on Strength and Mode of Failure. Frontiers Earth Sci., Sec. Earth and Planetary Materials.
Related Links
Patents
- Published Application: WO2021113737
- Published Application: 20230013411
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