Aguascalientes, Ags. August 11, 2023.- As part of the Pan American University's Summer of Research 2023, the PanamericanaResearch professors and students of the Faculty of Engineering develop a concrete mix using alternative materials, either recycled or new materials, with the objective of creating a new mix with the same strength but lighter.
Concrete batching
This initiative was born out of the need for an alternative concrete material, specifically researchers from the School of Engineering have sought a new mixture that is resistant for the University, as well as being made with recycled materials that contribute to the circular economy. Another of the most important things is that it is a multidisciplinary project.
This project is made up of researchers: Dr. Gabriela Durán Aguilar from Innovation and Design Engineering, Dr. Pia Berger, from the energetic and circular part, and Dr. Isaí Gerardo Reyes Cedeño from Civil Engineering.
"The common concrete aggregates are cement, gravel, sand and water; the only thing we are doing is changing the dosage in terms of quantities and we are adding some proportion of rubber, fiberglass or fiber from cigarette butts. The last step we have discussed is to add biochar," reports Dr. Isaí Gerardo.
Currently, the materials they are working with are fiberglass and cigarette butts, as some students of Civil Engineering and Administration competed in the National Olympics of Civil Engineering Students (OLIMPIANEIC), where they were among the top ten teams with this initiative.
The main link of this project with sustainability is precisely the reuse of materials, since there are materials that have no space in municipal landfills, such as rubble, which is projected to be used as another alternative material to recreate a concrete mix.
Alternative materials base
After six months of hard work, the main results that have been obtained in terms of resistance with rubber and cigarette butt fiber have not proven that the concrete has a completely optimal result, but it is lighter. On the other hand, with fiberglass, a better percentage of resistance was demonstrated, but there are still more tests to be done to achieve a better result.
Within the plan that integrates this project, the first step is to find that alternative material that provides the aforementioned requirements, that has the same resistance as the usual materials but is lighter and that is made with recycled material; the final result that is expected to be achieved is to obtain a patent. On the other hand, we would look for a way to integrate it to companies within this sector.
"We seek to create alternatives that not only have an environmental impact, but also an economic impact," they comment.
Undoubtedly, one of the disadvantages of this initiative is the time involved in the process, since the correct dosage has to be found through trial and error.
The purpose of this type of projects is also to continue participating and encourage students to compete in national and international competitions.
