Technical University of Munich
Chair of Construction Chemistry (Prof. Gädt)
Postal address
Postal:
Lichtenbergstr. 4
85748 Garching b. München
- Phone: +49 (89) 289 - 13203
- Homepage
- torben.gaedt@tum.de
Research
Chemistry for CO2 neutral Gigaton Materials
Our research is focused on the chemistry of large scale structural materials (i.e. construction materials such as concrete). The properties of these materials are determined by the binder phases which are formed via through solution chemical reactions on the job-site. In the case of portland cement, these reactions are called “hydration”.
We study kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of these binder reactions. A key motivation is to lower the carbon intensity of inorganic, mineral binders. Currently, concrete production stands at approx. 30 Gt/a and its binder portland cement is produced on a scale of 4.6 Gt/a. Due to its large scale, cement is responsible for approx. 8% of global CO2 emissions. We search for alternative, low or no CO2 binders.
Additionally, functional polymers strongly influence the properties of both fresh and hardened structural materials. We synthesize functional polymers and use them to change colloidal and mechanical properties of concrete.
