Galliford Try lower carbon concrete research project receives funding

A partnership including Galliford Try has been awarded a research grant by Innovate UK to work on developing a more eco-friendly concrete utilising Graphene, a material that is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon, to reinforce it.

Working together with Graphene@Manchester (part of Manchester University), CEMEX and Northumbrian Water, Galliford Try will take part in the research project to investigate an innovative approach to decarbonising concrete by integrating micronised limestone and graphene-based admixtures into the concrete mix.

The approach is targeted aims to reduce reliance on Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), which is responsible for a significant portion of concrete's carbon emissions.

The use of micronised limestone as a Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) reduces the need for OPC, thereby decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, incorporating graphene, a novel 2D material, enhances the mechanical properties of the concrete, allowing for the use of higher SCM content without compromising strength development.

The material will be trialled at the Bran Sands site where Galliford Try is working on behalf of Northumbrian Water.

Jon de Souza, Research and Innovation Lead for Galliford Try, commented: “We are delighted that our project has been chosen for funding by Innovate UK in what was a very challenging competition for funding. We look forward to working with the rest of the stakeholders to hopefully take a further step forward in the production of lower carbon concrete, that will make such a difference to the construction industry.”