Displaying items by tag: university

India: Village leaders from Maharashtra’s Chandrapur District began a hunger strike on 17 November 2023 with the stated aim of ensuring that UltraTech Cement continues to deliver on its commitments to its host communities. Specifically, the demonstration sought to make the producer distribute funding for roadbuilding projects across 12 villages surrounding its 3.6Mt/yr Awarpur cement plant. The Hitavada newspaper has reported that UltraTech Cement agreed to the strikers’ demands on 19 November 2023. In addition to the funding, the company will give preferential treatment to industrial training institute (ITI) and polytechnic students lodging at the selected villages when allocating apprenticeships and training places and make some of its land available for community uses.

US: A team from Washington State University (WSU) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory has successfully used waste crustacean shells in the production of concrete. ZME Science News has reported that the materials consist of calcium carbonate and 20 – 30% chitin, a nanoparticle biopolymer. When used as an additive in concrete production, the shells increase the set product’s compressive strength by 12% and its flexural strength by 40%. The team is now developing a methodology for the industrial-scale production of shell-based additives.

WSU researcher Professor Michael Wolcott said “Those are very significant numbers. If you can reduce the amount that you use and get the same mechanical function or structural function and double its lifetime, then you’re able to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of the built environment.”

Australia: Researchers from Murdoch University in Western Australia have developed a cement-free concrete called Colliecrete. ABC News has reported that the concrete comprises of 80 – 90% fly ash. Other ingredients are bauxite residue and recycled aggregates. Developer Ramon Skane said that customers can make Colliecrete ‘anywhere, at room temperature.’