May 23 2014
The U.S. Patents Office awarded two new patents to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, that describe sustainable concrete products that cure and harden by consuming carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of water.1,2 The commercialization of the products is occurring under an exclusive licensing agreement with Solidia Technologies®, a New Jersey-based start-up developing sustainable building materials that can reduce the carbon footprint of concrete products up to 70 percent.
Solidia Concrete™ is manufactured using identical mixing and forming processes as those used to produce concrete made with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). It is then cured and hardened by a previously patented chemical reaction between Solidia Cement™ and gaseous CO2.3,4 This unique aspect of Solidia Concrete curing allows precise control of the curing process, permits the incorporation of a broad range of sands, aggregates, and reinforcements, reduces water consumption up to 80 percent, and enables manufacturers to operate at higher speeds while minimizing material waste. Solidia Concrete cures in less than 24 hours as compared to the 28 days required for OPC-based concrete to achieve full hardness.5
When the reduced CO2 emissions associated with Solidia Cement production are combined with the CO2 reacted into Solidia Concrete, the carbon footprint of concrete products can be reduced by up to 70 percent.
Suitable for large- and small-scale applications, Solidia Concrete parts can be designed for compressive strength, abrasion resistance, efflorescence, and freeze-thaw cycling resilience that are equal to, or better than, that of conventional concrete.
“Solidia Concrete can be adapted easily by manufacturers of conventional concretes, fitting into the industry’s existing infrastructure and raw materials supply chains anywhere in the world,” said Solidia Chief Technology Officer Nicholas DeCristofaro, Ph.D. “Products made with Solidia Concrete are more stable, more durable, and more cost-effective than traditional concretes, offering the global construction and building materials industries a path to greater sustainability and profitability.”
Solidia’s licensing agreement with Rutgers covers a portfolio of more than 50 U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications for technologies originally co-invented by Richard (Rik) Riman, Ph.D., Rutgers distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and Solidia Founder and Board member, and Vahit Atakan, Ph.D., Solidia’s R&D director and former Rutgers graduate student and research associate.
About Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Established in 1766, Rutgers is America’s eighth oldest institution of higher learning and one of the nation’s premier public research universities, serving more than 65,000 students on three campuses. Rutgers–New Brunswick is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and joins the Big Ten Conference in July 2014. Rutgers ranks #1 among U.S. universities for chemistry R&D funding. The Office of Research and Economic Development provides a central point for industry to access Rutgers, including a new website, businessportal.rutgers.edu.
About Solidia Technologies®
Solidia Technologies® makes it easy and profitable to use carbon dioxide (CO2) to create superior and sustainable building materials. Solidia was honored with the 2013 R&D Top 100 Award, named a finalist in both the 2014 CCEMC Grand Challenge First Round and the 2013 Katerva Award, shortlisted to both the 2013 Cleantech 100 and MIT’s Climate CoLab, and named a 2014 Best Place to Work in NJ. Based in Piscataway, N.J. (USA), Solidia’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Bright Capital, BASF, and BP. Follow Solidia Technologies at www.solidiatech.com and on LinkedIn and Twitter: @SolidiaCO2.
1 U.S. Patent No. 8,709,960 B2 Method of Hydrothermal Liquid Phase Sintering of Ceramic Materials and Products Derived Therefrom, April 29, 2014
2 U.S. Patent No. 8,721,784 Systems and Methods for Capture and Sequestration of Gases and Compositions Derived Therefrom, May 13, 2014
3 U.S. Patent No. 8,313,802
4 U.S. Patent No. 8,114,367
5 See white papers, Solidia Cement and Solidia Concrete.
Source: http://solidiatech.com