The First Graphene-Enhanced Concrete Hits the Market
Image Credit: Concrene
The addition of just a touch of graphene could make the world s most ubiquitous building material stronger, more durable and even a touch greener.
The first graphene-enhanced concrete is about to hit the American market. April 2021 will see the culmination of a project between the Advanced Materials Division of Thomas Swan¹ and Concrene² a UK-based nanotech company.
The addition of a tiny amount of graphene supplied by Thomas Swan to concrete improves the building material s hardening process and results in a lighter and stronger structure. But, there is arguably a more important element to the addition of graphene to concrete.
FACI, Structural Services Inc.
Pat Harrison is a Vice President and Principal with Structural Services, Inc., with 38 years of concrete slab design, construction and forensic experience. Based in Kansas City, he has worked throughout North America, focusing on exposed retail, commercial, and industrial concrete slabs on ground.
He has significantly contributed to the design, construction, and development of exposed concrete slabs on ground systems. Recognized for his consultation to a variety of clients, including the largest major retailer’s and e-commerce distributors, his firm has influenced innovative industry design and construction management of concrete slabs. He has also been a featured speaker in various locations in Mexico, Latin and South America, as well as the U.K. on quality floor slab design and construction.
December 21, 2020
Exposé GmbH/AdobeStock
Climate change, the Paris Agreement and talk of saving the planet have, for many years, been highly politicized topics. Viewpoints have differed greatly, and few have been willing to risk relationships with customers, vendors and others to take a stance on the issue. Major industries such as construction, building materials and heavy machinery, until now, were relatively quiet on the issue.
Taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lower the global temperature increase, as the Paris Agreement aims to do to limit global warming well below 2° Celsius and as close to 1.5° Celsius as possible have long been considered a political move. Few in the manufacturing and industrial sectors world have been willing to rock the boat and publicly embrace the Paris Agreement. When it comes to the concrete and cement industry, some have questioned the need to change. After all, concrete is the most used building material, second o