Lehigh University

This Project Will Enhance Available Resources for Low-carbon Concrete Binder Commercialization, to Test Low-carbon Non-ordinary Portland Cements That Can Decarbonize the Cement and Concrete Industries by Advancing Low Temperature Calcined Clays With a 50% Lower Carbon Footprint Than Traditional Cement. the Research Team Will Focus on Five Key Objectives: (1) Research Ultrasonication Processing as a Contaminant Separation and Clay Beneficiation Process for Low-grade Kaolin (LGK) and Blended Calcined Clays. (2) Produce Calcined Clays at Appreciable Quantities for Analysis and Concrete Batching Using the Ultrasonication-calcination-grinding Process. (3) Investigate Chemical and Physical Properties of Naturally Occurring Clays as Compared to Ultrasonically Processed Clays, Both Before and After Calcination. (4) Test and Quantify the Mechanical Properties and Durability Properties of Concrete Mix Designs Utilizing Calcined Clays. (5) Quantify the Carbon Footprint of Calcined Clays in Terms of the Doe’s Metrics and to Determine an Optimal Trade-off Point to Maximize Desirable Properties.