Solidia Concrete™ pavers

Crumbling infrastructure has reached crisis proportions across the globe, with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimating that $170 billion in capital investment will be needed each year to improve conditions of the nation’s 3.9 million miles of highways and 140,000 rail miles. To help decrease emissions and drive economic growth, the FHWA supports the development of alternative materials, as shown through a multi-year Cooperative Agreement (CRADA) with Solidia Technologies^® to examine transportation infrastructure applications for its CO₂-cured concrete products. Independent tests conducted at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) have demonstrated the superior durability and strength of Solidia Concrete™ products that, combined with sustainable Solidia Cement™, reduce the carbon footprint of cement and concrete up to 70% and can save up to two trillion liters of water per year.

Smooth roadways cause less stress on vehicles’ tires and shock absorbers, increasing fuel efficiency and vehicle longevity. The production of cement, which is used to make concrete, is responsible for 3-5% of total global carbon emissions. As the carbon economy is coming online, asphalt and concrete manufacturers seek alternative cementitious materials, as traditional products add to greenhouse gas emissions. Solidia Technologies provides the infrastructure sector with solutions to a wide variety of applications by enabling producers of cement and concrete to consume CO₂ and profitably manufacture materials that are not only stronger, but also more energy- and resource-efficient.

Scientists from Solidia joined other leaders in infrastructure materials gathered recently for USDOT’s Third Bi-Annual Workshop on Emerging Developments Related to Alkali-Aggregate-Reaction (AAR) and the Use of Alternative Cementitious Materials (ACMs) in Highway Infrastructure. Presenting “Performance of Carbonated Concrete,” Solidia’s Principal Scientist Sada Sahu, Ph.D., reported that  Solidia Cement, a low-lime calcium silicate cement (CSC) that uses CaCO₃ and SiO₂ as its reactive products, emits 30% less CO₂ during the production process compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Solidia’s systems can consume up to 300 kg of CO₂ per ton of cement during the concrete curing process, resulting in up to 70% reduction in CO₂ emissions combined. 

“Finished Solidia Concrete products can contain up to 7 wt% of sequestered CO₂, although it is subject to the particular application. Solidia uses carbonation instead of hydration, so we are not only reducing CO₂ in the atmosphere by sequestering in concrete products, but we are also able to recycle and save water used in the process,” explained Dr. Sahu. If the worldwide cement and concrete industry were to adopt Solidia’s technologies, it would save two trillion liters of water per year.

Research also shows that Solidia Concrete has high resistance to salt spray used for de-icing roads and better abrasion resistance, resulting in enhanced durability. Dr. Sahu was joined by research partner Jason Weiss, Ph.D., professor of civil engineering at Oregon State University who presented a paper entitled, "The Role of Alternative Cements in Limiting Joint Damage Due to Calcium Oxychloride.” Dr. Weiss reported test results demonstrating the superior performance of Solidia Cement-based concrete in freeze thaw environments with de-icing salts.

“Solidia Cement and Concrete address pressing concerns facing the cement and concrete industry and the world at large,” said Dr. Sahu. The Turner-Fairbank research and other independent tests show that Solidia Concrete is stronger, more durable, more flexible and costs less than traditional concrete products, all while using the same raw materials and equipment, but less water, energy, and time throughout the entire supply chain. Curing in less than 24 hours, Solidia Concrete speeds up project development by offering a dramatic time savings over traditional concrete, which requires up to 28 days to reach maximum strength.

In July, Solidia was awarded U.S. Patent No. 9,393,715, "Composite Railroad Ties and Methods of Production and Uses Thereof," which covers railroad ties (RRTs) manufactured from novel composite materials. Possessing physical and performance characteristics matching or exceeding traditional concrete, Solidia Concrete RRTs can be readily produced from widely available, low-cost raw materials by a process suitable for large-scale production with improved energy consumption, a more desirable carbon footprint and minimal environmental impact.[1] Solidia’s IP portfolio includes over 200 patent applications worldwide, with 31 issued patents and 15 scheduled-to-be-issued within the next few months.

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About Solidia Technologies^®

Solidia Technologies^® is a cement and concrete technology company that makes it easy and profitable to use CO₂ to create superior and sustainable building materials. Based in Piscataway, N.J. (USA), Solidia’s investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Bright Capital, BASF, BP, LafargeHolcim, Total Energy Ventures, Bill Joy and other private investors. Honors include: 2016 Sustainia100, 2015 NJBiz Business of the Year; 2014 Global Cleantech 100; 2013 R&D Top 100; 2014 Best Place to Work in NJ; 2014 CCEMC Grand Challenge First Round finalist; 2013 Katerva Award finalist; and MIT’s Climate CoLab shortlist. Follow Solidia Technologies at www.solidiatech.com and on LinkedIn, YouTube and Twitter: @SolidiaCO2.

Solidia Technologies

Solidia Technologies

Solidia Technologies® is a cement and concrete technology company that makes it easy and profitable to use CO2 to create superior and sustainable building and construction materials.

Solidia’s patented processes start with an energy-saving cement that dramatically reduces CO2 emissions at the kiln. It then cures concrete with CO2 instead of water, reducing the overall carbon footprint of cement in precast concrete up to 70%.

At scale each year, Solidia precast can eliminate at least 1.5 gigatonnes of CO₂, save three trillion liters of fresh water, reduce energy consumption equal to ~260 million barrels of oil, and eliminate 100 million tonnes of concrete landfill waste.

Solidia's ready-mix applications go even further, offering the potential to transform concrete – the second most utilized material on the planet – into a carbon sink.

Produced using the same raw materials and existing equipment, Solidia products are higher performing and cost less to produce than traditional concrete, and cure in less than 24 hours. Solidia offers industry an easy-to-adopt, rapid and globally scalable response to one of the greatest threats to our planet.

Solidia Concrete for precast is currently available in the US. The ready-mix applications are currently in tests for infrastructure applications.

Based in Piscataway, N.J. (USA), Solidia’s investors include Kleiner Perkins, Bright Capital, BASF, BP, LafargeHolcim, Total Energy Ventures, Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) Climate Investments, Air Liquide, Bill Joy and other private investors.

Solidia’s R&D collaborators have included LafargeHolcim, Air Liquide, DOT’s Federal Highway Administration, DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, the EPA, Rutgers University, Purdue University, Ohio University, and the University of South Florida.

Honors include: the 2020, 2019 and 2014 Global Cleantech 100; a 2020 and 2014 Best Place to Work in NJ; 2020, 2019 and 2018 BP Advancing Low Carbon accreditation; the 2019 Solar Impulse 1000 Efficient Solutions; 2017 ERA Grand Challenge (formerly CCEMC) finalist; 2016 Sustainia 100; 2015 NJBiz Business of the Year;  2014 CCEMC Grand Challenge finalist; 2013 R&D Top 100; 2013 Katerva Award finalist; and MIT’s Climate CoLab shortlist.

Follow Solidia on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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