Accelerated Carbonation hardening of binders based on raw dolomite – a way to a new resource-efficient construction material with low CO2 footprint

• Applicant: Dr. Harald Hilbig
• Subject Area: Construction Material Sciences, Chemistry, Building Physics
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 542115298

Module 1 of the priority program deals with alternative binder material, which is also the focus in this proposal: calcined raw dolomite. So-called raw dolomite (< 90 wt% dolomite) is one of the most widespread and least developed raw materials. A promising approach to a climate-friendly binder system are binders based on the carbonation hardening of MgO. First results show that enforced carbonation-hardened dolomite lime is a promising system to develop a high-quality binder material with low CO2 footprint. But there exists a need for fundamental understanding of the mechanisms responsible for performance development in carbonation-hardened lime binders, especially with a high degree of impurities. Hence, this project aims for a better understanding of how various process- and material-parameters affect the CO2 uptake with regards to kinetics as well as the total amount taken up during carbonation of slaked or partially-slaked dolomitic lime of various compositions as well as the resulting microstructure and therefore the performance of the carbonated products. With this knowledge, novel materials and novel curing methods can be established and optimized. This needs to be done as a combination of optimization towards performance and environmental impact simultaneously.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2436: Net-Zero Concrete