Displaying items by tag: activator

Global: Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has launched the Innovandi Open Challenge 2025, inviting start-ups to wok together with cement manufacturers around the world in developing low carbon concrete technologies.

The Open Challenge is looking for start-ups working on next generation materials for net zero concrete, including low-carbon admixtures, supplementary cementitious materials, activators or binders. The challenge aims to find ways to reduce clinker use and incorporate new materials to lower CO₂ emissions.

The programme follows three previous Open Challenges.

Chief executive Thomas Guillot said "Advanced production methods which are decarbonising our sector are already being used in cement and concrete production in many parts of the world. Through the Innovandi Open Challenge, start-ups can bring in even newer ideas and further accelerate our industry's push."

“If you are a start-up from anywhere in the world with an innovative idea or technology, then we want to hear from you."

Start-ups can find more information and apply to take part in the Innovandi Open Challenge by going to the GCCA Open Challenge 4 webpage: Innovandi Open Challenge 4 : GCCA

New Zealand: Neocrete has launched an investment round to raise over US$1.86m in funding. The start-up will use the funds to build an industrial-scale plant for its Neocrete activator for pozzolan-based concrete. The use of Neocrete's activator can eliminate up to 50% of cement in concrete. Neocrete aims to ultimately displace 100% of concrete's cement content. The Hawke's Bay Today newspaper has reported that pozzolan-based concrete made using Neocrete's additive offers resilience benefits compared to conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete. It is especially suited construction in seawater-exposed settings.

France: Vicat and Materrup have formed a joint venture to industrialise production and accelerate marketing of Materrup's Clay Cement 1 (MCC1) raw clay cement. The Le Moniteur newspaper has reported that the technology is based on a precursor and activator mixture which removes the need for calcination of the clay. Materrup said that this halves MCC1 cement's CO₂ emissions compared with ordinary Portland cement (OPC).

The partners say that clay has better long-term feasibility than other alternative raw materials for cement production, because global reserves are currently 2Tnt.

France: Sustainable concrete producer Materrup has shared plans for its upcoming Bordeaux precast concrete elements plant. The L’Usine Nouvelle newspaper has reported that the facility will produce precast elements from Materrup’s cement-free concrete, which it produces from uncalcined clay, an activator and a precursor at room temperature. The technology, called Clay Cement 1 (MCC1), reduces CO₂ emissions by 50 – 80% compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC), according to the producer. It previously opened a Euro7m 50,000t/yr plant in the Atlantisub Business Area in Saint-Geours-de-Maremne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

UK: CemFree cement-free concrete has been applied volumetrically for the first time in a 52m3 repair to the Woodford West Viaduct on the M25 London ordbital motorway in Essex. The reason behind the choice of method was the unavailability of batching plants at night, which was the only time that a team of Jackson, DB Group and Axtell employees working on behalf of Connect Plus were permitted to perform the work on the UK’s busiest road. CemFree said that 9.4t of CO2 emissions were cut by comparison to the same project undertaken with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Jackson director of highways Paul Watson said, “We hope this marks a turning point on the M25 and the wider Highways sector for using low carbon alternatives.”

Cemfree uses 95% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) and a 5% alkali activator, removing the need for cement. This gave CO2 emissions of 114kg/t, which the company says is 77% lower than conventional (OPC).