With the increasing number of population, the usage of concrete is also increasing rapidly. Concrete is considered one of the most used materials in the world. Along with its benefits, it emits a large number of CO2. Today, the use of concrete is inevitable as it is the prime need for the design and manufacturing industry. Therefore, scientists are researching and experimenting with new ways to reduce its effects on the environment. Architectures, engineers, designers, and researchers are working to improve their productivity. In this way, future concrete will be safe for the coming generations.
- Environmental Action:
Researchers are trying to avoid the adverse effects of concrete on the environment. The latest techniques and methods are adopted to produce eco-friendly concrete. As cement is one of the most harmful materials that emit almost 5% to 7% of CO2 harming the natural world. France’s Vendee department has taken the initiative to produce green cement. Hoffmann Green Cement Technologies now runs the first green plant in their country. They have found a substitute to clinker and limestone decarbonization. Following FastCarb national plan, they are doing a reversal of decarbonization into carbonation of recycled concrete aggregate. In this way, they can recycle the waste material and can minimize the emission of CO2 to a great extent.
- Rock-Solid Innovation:
Along with environmental impacts, scientists have introduced other innovative ways to use concrete effectively. In cement labs, new processes are emerging to enhance concrete quality. A Dutch company, Basilisk, has introduced self-healing concrete. They have used the technology that produces limestone and automatically heals the cracks in concrete structures. Besides, a Norwegian company named Disruptive Technologies observes and tracks data related to the temperature and performance of the concrete. On the other hand, Datawati uses; data and artificial intelligence that speeds up the material quality. It also maximizes production processes.
- New application on Horizon:
In the coming days, concrete is establishing a new identity. Nowadays, people are using it in many ways. Le Pave Parisian developed concrete-speakers that are not commonly found in the market. EtNISI has innovated a technique where waste material of recycled products is utilized for flooring and tiling. MuCEM is using high-performance fiber- reinforced concrete which is creating new creative paths for architects and engineers. Currently, concrete is used in 3D printing for new and better constructional techniques.
- Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete:
GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete) is the mortar mixture of concrete, sand, alkali-resistant glass fiber, and water. This concrete is flexible like plastic, which is thinner and lighter than the regular concrete. This material has been used in the Heyd Aliyev Center and complex constructional forms like Gaudi’s church of Sagrada Familia.
- Bio-Based Material Concrete:
Another innovative technique introduced nowadays is bio-based concrete. The researchers of Lanchester University UK have found that the mixture of nanoplatelets extracted from roots vegetables such as carrots that can enhance the power of concrete mix. It can also help to absorb C02 released from concrete.
Therefore, it is clear that the future of the concrete is going to bring innovations to the construction industry. Future concrete is going to be eco-friendly, firm, and flexible, yet, it is going to bring new challenges for researchers, architectures, and engineers.
