Graphene Concrete for Sustainable Building and Infrastructure Assets

High performance concrete is gaining attention for its potential to increase asset service life and improve sustainability outcomes.

While traditional concrete has long provided reliable and durable structures, advancement in concrete technology is delivering performance improvements. These can extend asset life, reduce maintenance and lower a structure’s carbon footprint – all essential if the industry is to reach its net-zero targets.

Researchers from Macquarie University have partnered with building materials supplier Heidelberg Materials Australia and others to investigate the potential of graphene to improve the properties of concrete. Their feasibility study will determine the practical usage of graphene oxide as an additive in concrete to create long-lasting structures for asset owners. Identifying efficiencies in lowering cement content will also lead to significantly lower embodied carbon. In this way, the project will create empirical evidence to support the use of graphene concrete for load-bearing applications such as beams, columns and road pavements.