In order to achieve different load-bearing requirements and fireproof and waterproof functions, concrete manufacturers will add various materials and utilize different processes. Recently, Australian miner Talga used graphene to make concrete produce new functions, and successfully developed high-conductivity concrete, which is expected to realize the future of electric vehicles. Driving while charging the dream.
As an emerging mining company in Australia, Talga develops graphite in Sweden to produce high quality graphene. Recently, the company has collaborated with the UK Research and Development (R&D) laboratory to add graphene to concrete and produce high-conductivity cement. The resistivity is 0.05 ohm-cm. The University of Echter test shows that the strength of graphene concrete is 146% higher than that of ordinary concrete. This technology can further reduce the amount of cement used, and it is estimated that 446 kg of carbon dioxide emissions per ton can be reduced. .
According to Mark Thompson, general manager of Talga, graphene functions like the heating element of an induction cooker. It is used in concrete to enhance electrical conductivity. Although graphene has a low loading capacity, it has a very high electrical conductivity, paving the way for the commercialization and sustainable development of conductive concrete. .
Talga pointed out that due to low maintenance costs and long life, the technology can be used as an indoor floor to achieve heating, directly replacing the current vertical hot water system. And graphene cement is not only used for heating, but also for anti-resistance. Static electricity or shielding electromagnetic waves, can be used to provide lightning protection for military heavy ground or for bridges, fans, etc., and can be used for snow melting on the road in daily life. This eliminates the need to use salt and deicing chemicals to melt snow. These methods may lead to Corrosion of the road surface or pollution of groundwater can also save money for the purchase of chemical agents.
Conductive cement can also be said to be the key technology for electric vehicles to achieve the dream of charging while running. It is also expected to be used for electric vehicle charging or wireless charging in the future. Talga said that in the future, the potential of conductive concrete to charge on the road will be studied, so that driving will not matter. Heating or sensing can be used to charge and conduct conductive concrete while driving or parking.
The graphene process is complicated and costly. It is usually necessary to separate the graphite layer to obtain a single layer of graphene. However, graphene has a high return on investment and is widely used, except for information, energy, aerospace, transportation, medical, etc. The industry is also an alternative anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Talga previously pointed out that the company's graphene has a high degree of matching with commercial lithium-ion batteries. The combined power and energy of both phases are increased by 20%, and the initial efficiency is 94%. .
According to the company, nearly $450 billion is invested in the concrete market each year, and the market has almost 5 billion tons of cement per year. Talga believes that the conductive concrete market is huge.
At present, there are many manufacturers of conductive concrete. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has also developed conductive concrete, which combines concrete with steel scrap and carbon particles. It has enough conductivity to melt ice and snow, and it can guarantee the human body. It will be electric shock. The technology also uses magnetite instead of ordinary lime and sand to isolate electromagnetic waves and the radio frequency of mobile phones.
