PALM
Physics of Amorphous, Liquids and Minerals
Within the framework of the topics proposed by the DIM MaterRE and to reduce the environmental impact of the habitat and infrastructure, we work on the design of so-called «green» cements. Cement is the hydraulic binder used to manufacture concrete for construction with annual global production now exceeding 4 Gt/year, accounting for about 2% of the world’s primary energy consumption and 8% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. In a circular economy imposed by the future scarcity of primary raw materials, waste from other industries can be used as low CO2 binders. Thus, the “green” cements can be manufactured with up to 95% blast furnace slags or calcined kaolins from among others. However, their implementation is still to be worked out, as the use of these materials represents a substantial change from the traditional Portland cement chemistry. In particular, modelling the reactivity of slag in water when mixed with clinker requires a better understanding of the influence of slag treatment and the physico-chemical properties on its performance.
Moreover, in Africa, the urgent need to make the transition to the use of sustainable materials is accentuated by challenges such as demographic and environmental changes and their consequences. The target materials are geo/biopolymers, and other ecomaterials, recycling and depollution in relation to the life cycle. As part of a collaboration with the Agence Sémé City Cotonou Benin and Sorbonne Université, IRD, collaborations are being established around these building materials with the aim of sustainable urban planning (innovations, characterizations, processes, anthropogenic impact).
Platforms and equipment
- X-ray Diffraction platform accredited by Sorbonne University and open to the whole community.
- Spectroscopic platform
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
Members
- Laurence Galoisy
- Gerald Lelong
- Martine Gerard
- Laurent Cormier
Publications
- Le Cornec, Domitille, Laurent Cormier, Laurence Galoisy, Benoit Baptiste, Nicolas Trcera, Laurent Izoret, et Georges Calas. « Molecular Structure of Amorphous Slags: An Experimental and Numerical Approach ». Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 556 (mars 2021): 120444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2020.120444.
- Le Cornec, Domitille, Laurence Galoisy, Laurent Izoret, Laurent Cormier, Nicolas Trcera, et Georges Calas. « Structural Role of Titanium on Slag Properties ». Journal of the American Ceramic Society 104, no 1 (janvier 2021): 105‑13. https://doi.org/10.1111/jace.17407.