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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.

Rheology of earth-based materials modified with biopolymers

Earth materials are an emerging, sustainable alternative to cementitious materials because of their low embodied carbon, affordability, safety, and thermal characteristics. By using minimally processed materials and sourcing raw materials from the construction site, 3D-printed earth structures could substantially reduce transportation, chemical treatments, excess manufacturing, warehouse storage, and intermediary storages.

Structural build-up of fresh cement-based materials

For emerging casting approaches, e.g., 3D concrete printing, understanding and controlling the structural build-up behavior (or fresh-state stiffening) of fresh cements has become critically important. In the case of 3D concrete printing, due to the absence of formwork the freshly deposited material must exhibit rapid structural build-up to achieve shape stability.

Tailoring the rheological properties of cement-based materials for 3D printing

3D concrete printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we construct and repair our infrastructure. One of the major advantages of 3D concrete printing over conventional static formwork casting is the elimination of the use of formwork and vibration typically necessary for consolidation. This can reduce material and labor costs due to formwork, reduce material waste, cut construction time, and reduce human error.

Select publications

For complete list see ORCID or Google Scholar

Douba, A., Ma, S., & Kawashima, S. (2022). Rheology of fresh cement pastes modified with nanoclay-coated cements. Cement and Concrete Composites, 125, 104301. doi:10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2021.104301
Douba, A., & Kawashima, S. (2021). Use of Nanoclays and Methylcellulose to Tailor Rheology for Three-Dimensional Concrete Printing. ACI Materials Journal, 118(6), 275-289. DOI: 10.14359/51733129
Kawashima, S., Wang, K., Ferron, R. D., Kim, J. H., Tregger, N., & Shah, S. (2021). A review of the effect of nanoclays on the fresh and hardened properties of cement-based materials. Cement and Concrete Research, 147, 106502. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2021.106502
Rim, G., Roy, N., Zhao, D., Kawashima, S., Stallworth, P., Greenbaum, S. G., & Park, A. H. A. (2021). CO 2 utilization in built environment via the P CO2 swing carbonation of alkaline solid wastes with different mineralogy. Faraday Discussions. doi:10.1039/D1FD00022E
Tian, Y., Bourtsalas, A. T., Kawashima, S., Ma, S., & Themelis, N. J. (2020). Performance of structural concrete using Waste-to-Energy (WTE) combined ash. Waste Management, 118, 180-189. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2020.08.016
Ma, S., Akca, A. H., Esposito, D., & Kawashima, S. (2020). Influence of aqueous carbonate species on hydration and carbonation of reactive MgO cement. Journal of CO2 Utilization, 41, 101260. doi:10.1016/j.jcou.2020.101260
Ma, S., & Kawashima, S. (2020). Role of shear stress at rest on the viscoelastic response of fresh cement pastes. Journal of Rheology, 64(2), 433-444. doi:10.1122/1.5129676
Roussel, N., Bessaies-Bey, H., Kawashima, S., Marchon, D., Vasilic, K., & Wolfs, R. (2019). Recent advances on yield stress and elasticity of fresh cement-based materials. Cement and Concrete Research, 124, 105798. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2019.105798
Ma, S., & Kawashima, S. (2019). A rheological approach to study the early-age hydration of oil well cement: Effect of temperature, pressure and nanoclay. Construction and Building Materials, 215, 119-127. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.04.177
Marchon, D., Kawashima, S., Bessaies-Bey, H., Mantellato, S., & Ng, S. (2018). Hydration and rheology control of concrete for digital fabrication: Potential admixtures and cement chemistry. Cement and Concrete Research, 112, 96-110. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.05.014
Ma, S., Qian, Y., & Kawashima, S. (2018). Experimental and modeling study on the non-linear structural build-up of fresh cement pastes incorporating viscosity modifying admixtures. Cement and Concrete Research, 108, 1-9. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.02.022
Qian, Y., & Kawashima, S. (2016). Use of creep recovery protocol to measure static yield stress and structural rebuilding of fresh cement pastes. Cement and Concrete Research, 90, 73-79. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2016.09.005
Kawashima, S., Chaouche, M., Corr, D. J., & Shah, S. P. (2013). Rate of thixotropic rebuilding of cement pastes modified with highly purified attapulgite clays. Cement and Concrete Research, 53, 112-118. doi:10.1016/j.cemconres.2013.05.019