Engineers Discovered the Secret to Making 17x Stronger Cement
Engineers at Princeton University enhance cement strength by mimicking oyster shells' structure. The innovative method increases toughness and ductility significantly, offering potential environmental benefits and new possibilities for sustainable building materials.
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Engineers at Princeton University have discovered a groundbreaking method to make cement 17 times stronger by drawing inspiration from the structure of oyster shells. By mimicking the microscopic characteristics of nacre, the researchers were able to significantly enhance the toughness of cement, making buildings more durable and safer. The study published in Advanced Functional Materials details how the combination of aragonite for strength and biopolymer for flexibility in nacre can be replicated in cement to resist crack propagation. The innovative approach involved creating multi-layered beams with hexagonal plates resembling nacre, resulting in a material with 17 times greater toughness and 19 times more ductility compared to traditional cement. This bio-inspired technique not only promises stronger construction materials but also offers potential environmental benefits by reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with cement production. While further refinement is needed before widespread adoption, this research opens up new possibilities for enhancing the performance and sustainability of building materials.
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