In search of a cleaner process to produce cement
An expert in cement materials at The University of Texas at Arlington is working to discover and improve new cements that will replace the need for scarce materials and reduce the environmental impacts of concrete production.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Early Career Development program awarded Erika La Plante, assistant professor in the Materials Science and Engineering Department and a member of UTA’s Center for Advanced Construction Materials, a five-year, $576,560 grant to further her research.
The Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Award is the NSF’s most prestigious honor for junior faculty. Winners are outstanding researchers, but also are expected to be outstanding teachers through research, educational excellence and the integration of education and research at their home institutions.
“It is an honor to receive a CAREER Award, and I’m excited to be able to pursue my research further because of it,” she said.
The process used to create cement leads to high carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for up to 8% of global emissions. A common ingredient, fly ash, is becoming increasingly scarce. There are efforts underway to create new methods that do not require the high-carbon-dioxide processes currently in use.
La Plante’s research focuses on magnesium silicate hydrates (MSH), which are the magnesium equivalent of typical cement. There are several magnesium sources that could be successfully used to improve durability and reduce environmental issues. Using atomic force microscopy to observe and manipulate low-temperature mineral reactions at the nano and mesoscale levels, she will inject solutions into precursor materials to grow MSH. Then, she will adjust the environmental conditions to tune the cement for maximum strength and durability.
“Cement is usually considered a low-tech material, but a lot of chemistry and materials science goes into our approach,” La Plante said. “Previous research shows that these types of materials are viable and there’s substantial potential in increasing reaction rates and improving mechanical and chemical properties. In this project, we will identify the precise chemical pathways of MSH synthesis to determine how we can use it as a binder material for construction and an alternative to typical cement.”
La Plante also will try to increase undergraduate research participation by forming student clusters within a course that can direct and work on projects related to her research.
“Undergraduate research helps retain STEM students and has a disproportionately positive impact on students from under-represented populations,” La Plante said. “I’ve also developed a collaboration with Tarrant County College District to determine how these students can gain access to our infrastructure and transfer smoothly to UTA when they’re ready.”
La Plante’s CAREER Award and the research it will fund shows great creativity and a proactive approach to a global problem, said Stathis Meletis, chair of UTA’s Materials Science and Engineering Department.
“Dr. La Plante is looking at cements in a unique way, using highly technical processes to observe and affect how cements form,” Meletis said. “Her approach is groundbreaking.”
- Written by Jeremy Agor, College of Engineering