Graphene cement enhancer demonstrated in large-scale construction project
Graphenea Advanced Materials, Lantania, and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid have developed an innovative cement and concrete additive that significantly improves the durability and sustainability of concrete infrastructure. After verifying its effectiveness in the laboratory, a test has been carried out on a non-structural element of the Almudévar reservoir project. Graphene was added to the concrete, with a characteristic strength of 30 MPa, and its behaviour was evaluated on a real scale in terms of: in-plant mixing, fresh state behaviour, effect of the transport medium and discharge. The concrete was then subjected to mechanical behaviour and durability tests.
The main benefits of the additive are an increase in the expected life of concrete by 50%, improved resistance to harsh environments, and improved mechanical performance. The additive was designed with ease of use in mind, for application in large-scale construction projects.
"This new additive is undoubtedly a step forward in improving the sustainability of infrastructures. By increasing its durability, we will be able to make concrete a more environmentally friendly material," says Lantania's president, Federico Ávila.
Jesús de la Fuente, CEO of Graphenea, said: "We are very proud of the hard work of the joint team of Lantania, UPM and Graphenea that created this innovative additive. This is a breakthrough innovation for the sustainability and efficiency of infrastructure construction projects".
About Graphenea & Graphenea Advanced Materials
Graphenea is a technology company created in 2010 specialised in the production of graphene, it has clients in more than 60 countries and offices in San Sebastián (Spain) and Boston (USA). Through research and innovation, Graphenea supports its customers by producing new forms of graphene from graphene field effect transistor chips to graphene oxides, whilst maintaining its leadership in the expanding graphene production sector. Graphenea Advanced Materials has a mission to transform industrial sectors with their graphene-based additives that create added value and increase the performance of materials.
About Lantania
The Lantania Group builds large transport, water and energy infrastructures. It develops sustainable solutions that improve quality of life and promote a cleaner and healthier world. Lantania has a portfolio of work in progress of over 550 million euros and assets of over 160 million euros. The maintenance of the runways of the Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas Airport, the electrification of the first section of the high-speed train to Extremadura, the urbanisation of the Central Breakwater of the Port of Bilbao expansion or the construction of a solar plant in the City of Justice in Valencia are some of Lantania's outstanding projects. The company is already present in Colombia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco, Poland, Slovakia and Bulgaria.