Title:
Mitigating Embodied Carbon Emissions in Air-Entrained Concrete through Polymeric Microspheres
Author(s):
He
Publication:
Web Session
Volume:
ws_F24_He.pdf
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
DOI:
Date:
11/3/2024
Abstract:
Concrete durability in freezing-thawing conditions relies significantly on the entrained air con-tent, with a conventional guideline indicating that 1% entrained air leads to a 5% reduction in compressive strength. An air content range of 5% to 8% is typically recommended to protect concrete from freezing-thawing damage. Consequently, achieving a freezing-thawing resistance concrete with an entrapped air content of 2.5% necessitates a range of 2.5% to 5.5% entrained air, resulting in a substantial 12.5% to 27.5% compression strength reduction. Addressing this strength loss requires additional cement, which consequently increases the embodied carbon footprint of the concrete industry. In this study, we introduce polymeric microspheres as a means of entraining air into concrete, aiming to fulfill freezing-thawing resistance requirements without compromising strength. We compare the carbon footprint of concrete exhibiting similar performance when using air-entraining agents (AEA) versus microspheres. Additionally, we investigate the microstructure, mechanical strength, and chloride ion resistance properties of these concrete formulations. Our findings offer insights into sustainable strategies for enhancing concrete durability while mitigating environmental impacts in construction practices.