Concrete is responsible for huge amounts of CO2. The search is ongoing across the world for more sustainable forms of concrete that use recycled materials. Here are two recent advances.
Now researchers from RMIT have developed a new method for casting prefabricated concrete products made with rubber tires and construction and demolition waste that are up to 35% stronger than traditional concrete.#scienceandenviro…https://t.co/uaSrhp2Qc0 https://t.co/U4QsxDvBrp
— GLOBENet (@GLOBENetCom) January 29, 2021
Recycled concrete aggregates made with everything from coffee cups to building rubble offer huge environmental benefits, from reducing landfill and CO2 emissions, to saving natural resources and boosting the circular economy. Despite ongoing improvements however, challenges with matching the strength and durability of traditional concrete have hindered the practical application of these sustainable alternatives. Now researchers from RMIT [University in Melbourne, Australia] have developed a new method for casting prefabricated concrete products made with rubber tires and construction and demolition waste that are up to 35% stronger than traditional concrete.
“Recent studies have shown that crushed #oyster shells can perform as a viable aggregate or grit in concrete and mortars. Not only that, oyster grit could do a great deal to help reduce #CO2 emissions.” #sustainable #bioeconomy #architecture https://t.co/VKIoKSnNG3
— 🌳GreenTalk🌲Daily🌳 (@ronmartino4) February 11, 2020
In a study undertaken at the University of Florida, recycled oyster shells were used as an aggregate to form a permeable concrete tile. The shells came from local area restaurants which were sending around 10,000 oyster shells each week to the landfill. The test results showed that after drying, a concrete tile made with oyster shell aggregate had a similar colour, texture and strength to that of a commercial concrete tile. In the case of mortar, a South Korean university study found no significant reduction in the compressive strength of the mortars containing small oyster shell particles instead of sand. Enormous amounts of oyster shells are discarded each year from oyster farms and restaurants. Oyster shells are non-biodegradable and pollute the land and water when discarded indiscriminately.
