Nanocem is a consortium of academic and private industry groups that researches the properties of cement and concrete on the nano- and micro-scales, with a particular focus on reducing carbon dioxide emissions at all stages of production. Nanocem was founded as an independent consortium in 2004 after a rejection of a 2002 bid to the Network of Excellence (European Framework Programme). The consortium is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland. As of 2016, it includes 33 organizations and supports more than 120 researchers.
Contents
Nanocem's seven completed core projects have included studies of interactions between admixtures and cement, concrete durability, the kinetics of cement hydration, and the use of magnetic resonance imaging techniques in concrete analysis. Recent Nanocem-sponsored projects have included the use of nanotechnology in cementitious materials, the effects of sulfate on concrete, the development of a bipolar mineral organic composite that can bond with Portland cement on one pole and polymerize with the other, and studies of cement hydration at the molecular level. Its research has led to eighty published papers and conference papers.
Participating organizations
Nanocem consists of 33 academic and private industry partners.