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Our group works on infrastructure materials with a focus on cement and concrete. Areas of interest include cement rheology and processing, alternative cements/clinkers for low carbon concretes, materials characterization of cements, and application of nanomaterials in cements. Recent efforts have been on facilitating 3D concrete printing via characterization and control of cement rheology, and lowering the embodied carbon of concrete via waste utilization and carbon mineralization. See our Research Page for more details.

 

About the Principle Investigator

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Active Research Projects

Impact of CaCO3 polymorphs on cements

With emerging CO2 mineralization technologies, it is possible to produce different CaCO3 polymorphs (i.e. calcite, vaterite, aragonite) with distinct morphologies. When used as a Portland cement replacement, we have found that these polymorphs have varying effects on key cement properties, including hydration kinetics and rheology. Further, we have found that metastable vaterite remains stable in cement-based systems, opening up their potential to serve as functional fillers.

Relevant Publications:

Low carbon concretes via waste utilization and carbon mineralization

Cement production accounts for 8% of all man-made CO2 emissions. This is largely due to the use of carbon-containing limestone (CaCO3) as a key feedstock material. The calcination of limestone to obtain lime (CaO) leads to direct CO2 emissions, while the use of fossil fuels for heating leads to indirect CO2 emissions.

Contact & Location

Shiho Kawashima

616 SW Mudd, 500 West 120th St, MC 4709, New York, NY 10027

212-854-2701

[email protected]