DUNE CEMENT
THE DESERT NANO-INTERFACE
BY VIRTUE OF NECESSITY
Sustainability is about responsible resource management.
There is a global shortage of riverbed and beach sand, to meet the global demand for the construction industry. Riverbeds and beaches are being stripped bare, with farmlands & forests torn up to get the raw material.
Ecosystems are being destroyed out of lack of ingenuity, in a world with no shortage of Dune sand, a natural sand found in sand dunes that can be used in construction as a fine aggregate for concrete, mortar, and plaster, is often perceived as “useless".
SAND TYPES
Below are some sand types and their applications in concrete.
Dune/Desert Sand: 0.1 to 1.6 mm (100 - 1600 µm). Not considered viable for construction due to its smooth surface.
Fine Sand: 0.075 mm to 0.425 mm (75 - 4250 µm). Used for plastering, mortar mixes where smooth finishes are required, and fine concrete work.
Concrete Sand (C-Sand): 0.15 mm to 4.75 mm (150 - 4750 µm). This size range is preferred Preferred for construction due to its bonding with concrete and providing strength and durability
In many desert regions, there is an abundance of dune sand. Made viable, Dune sand offers a broad spectrum of benefits such as :
Fine Aggregate: Dune sand can serve as a fine aggregate in concrete mixes, potentially replacing or supplementing the river sand shortage.
Cost-Effectiveness: Locally sourced dune sand will reduce transportation costs and reliance on traditional sand sources.
Environmental Advantages: Utilising dune sand will help conserve resources and reduce the environmental impact of construction projects.
Workability: Studies suggest an improvement in workability of concrete, when dune sand is used.
Strength: Studies indicate that Dune sand can be used in concrete by up to 40% content, without having negative effects on its strength and durability.
Backfilling and Embankments: Dune sand can be suitable for backfilling and embankment construction.
Pavement Interlock Bricks: Dune sand can be used to produce pavement interlock bricks.
Plastering: Due to its uniformity, Dune sand is ideal for wall plastering and fine concrete work.
INTERFACING DUNE SAND
The absence of microscopic roughness or pores means there's less area for an adhesive to grip and form a strong bond.
Bonding on smooth microscopic surfaces like Dune Sand can hence be challenging but it is nonetheless achievable by:
mechanical roughening or chemical treatments
using adhesives that form strong bonds through chemical interactions
increasing surface energy
TRADITIONAL CEMENT DEFICIENCIES
The term "cement",does not mean Portland cement. It simply means "binder" or a chemical adhesive.
This means a cement is not restricted to products like Portland Cement or ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS or GGBFS).
At an average particle diameter of 85µm, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) is close in size scale to Dune Sand. Rapid hardening cement has particle sizes ranging between 10 µm to 50 µm. So why don't these adhesive materials with surfaces mechanically made rough from grinding, bond firmly with Dune Sand?
Despite being chemical adhesives/cement with particles in a similar size range or even smaller than Dune Sand, the surface area of traditional cements is not high enough to effectuate a strong bond with the smooth surface of Dune Sand micro-particles.
DUNE NANOCEMENT
Smooth surfaces like glass, plastics, metals and Dune Sand, typically have a lower surface energy than most materials. This means, materials like Dune Sand resist bonding.
The critical design factor hence, for bonding concrete effectively with smooth Dune Sand, is a a high surface energy Nano-Cement. Congruently, a high surface area nanomaterial, with an increased affinity to bonding with low energy materials, to increase concrete strength.
In construction, this material parameter is also known as "blaine" (cm²/g) and increases as the material particle size gets finer.
This is the key challenge NANOARC resolves, with its proprietary NanoCement - QUANTCEM.
PORTLAND CEMENT 3,700
SLAG CEMENT (GGBS) 4,000
ULTRAFINE CEMENT 8,320
NANOARC QUANTCEM 359,300 - 635,200
With QUANTCEM, NANOARC utilises other chemical compositions, to deliver a higher performance nano-cement, with particle dimensions averaging between 1 - 25 nm (0.001 - 0.025 µm). QUANTCEM particles are 85000x smaller than traditional cement particles and have a blaine ~ 200x higher than traditional cements as shown below :
GENERAL PURPOSE CEMENT : 3,200 – 3,800 cm²/g
SLAG CEMENT (GGBS) : 4,000 – 4,500 cm²/g
RAPID HARDENING CEMENT : 4,500 – 6,500 cm²/g
NANOARC QUANTCEM : 359,300 - 635,200 cm²/g
QUANTCEM is produced using low-energy, zero CO2 emission sustainable nano-chemistry because such superfine nanoparticles cannot be obtained by grinding.
QUANTCEM offers benefits such as :
higher reactivity without excessive heat generation,
strong and effective bonding with concrete components like Dune Sand for higher density and strength,
reduced concrete weight
low porosity and increased freeze-thaw resistance
rapid hydration and concrete cure rate
increased concrete durability
minimises the need for recurring repairs
DOSAGE
The QUANTCEM effective dose* in concrete averages 0.0001 - 0.001 wt%, depending on the desired strength. At a 0.0001 wt % dose, with an average concrete strength gain of 10 - 20% in the first 24 - 72 hours.
USAGE GUIDELINES : No special equipment is needed. Simply weigh and mix QUANTCEM nanopowder thoroughly with your fine aggregate in the dry phase before hydration, then proceed as usual.
*The estimated Dune Sand mixing ratio for concrete is ~ 75% dune sand and 25% river sand. With an alteration in QUANTCEM dose, this ratio can be modified further, to favour a higher mix ratio of Dune Sand.
SIMPLIFIED LOGISTICS
The ultra-high blaine of QUANTCEM products enables their usage at unconventionally low doses, which lowers logistics costs e.g. 1kg (2.2 lb) of QUANTCEM CURE is viable for 370 m3 (440 Yd3) of concrete, shipped from our facility to any worldwide location, at a fixed cost of $105 or 45€ across all of Europe. This compensates for the hefty costs incurred with the shipment of tonnes of conventional cement.
We help re-design concrete formulations that adopt dune sand.
Click on "BUY" next to the product(s) of interest to pay with a credit card or contact trade@nanoarc.org to request an invoice for payment via bank transfer. Our products are sold exclusively on our website.
GUIDELINE: 1 gram of Quantm Material is about the equivalent of 1 kg of regular material
USAGE : Simply add the QUANTCEM nanopowder to your microcement or concrete mix in the dry phase, mix thoroughly prior to hydration, then proceed as usual.
SUBSCRIPTION MODEL : Get discounts and free shipping with pre-order purchases below bulk order volumes
QUARTERLY ( 5 % ) | BI-ANNUALLY ( 10 % ) | ANNUALLY ( 15 % )
WE SHIP WORLDWIDE
APPLICATIONS : Nano-cementitious system to accelerate the cure rate of concrete and offset the negative impact of fly ash and GGBS on the early-age properties of concrete. Improved workability, Nano-Filler, Compressive Strength reinforcement of concrete mortar and cement paste, Whitener/colour additive, Halogen-Free Flame Retardant.
Helps in the consolidation of unsound formations, repairing casing leaks in squeeze operations, particularly “tight” leaks that are inaccessible to microfine and conventional cement slurries due to their larger particle size and limited penetrability.
NANOARCHITECTURE : <25 nm (0.025 μm) hollow semi-spherical nanoparticles
BLAINE : 388000 cm²/g
COLOUR : White Nanopowder
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 50 % PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0003 -0.0005 wt %
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 0 % PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0008 wt %
AVERAGE DOSE IN GROUT : 0.0011 - 0.0021 wt %
AVERAGE DOSE PER m3 OF CONCRETE* : 2.7g ( 0.08 oz. per cubic yard)
WT % (per m3 of CONCRETE) : 0.00011 %
AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH GAIN**: approx. 16 - 20 %
*MINIMUM CEMENT REDUCTION (per m3 of CONCRETE) : approx. 10 %
*CO2 DEDUCTION (per m3 of CONCRETE) : approx. 216 kg (equivalent of ~ 0.22 carbon offset credits)
1 carbon credit = 1 tonne of CO2
QUANTITY | PRICE
25 grams (0.88 oz.) | £ 1,800 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 10 m3 OF CONCRETE
250 grams (8.81 oz.) | £ 17,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 100 m3 OF CONCRETE
1 kg (2.2 lb) | £ 67,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 400 m3 OF CONCRETE
BULK ORDER RATES : From 1 Tonne | CONTACT trade@nanoarc.org
APPLICATIONS : Helps reduce concrete cure/setting time by working as an accelerator or early stage activator of ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS or GGBFS) and enhance concrete strength gain. Expansive agent to reduce autogenous-shrinkage, Increase Compressive & Tensile Strength, Corrosion Inhibitor (Mitigate sulphate attack) & pH Elevator, Mold and Mildew Resistance, Low Air Permeability, Abrasion Resistance, Antistatic Agent, Halogen-Free Flame Retardant.
COLOUR : White Nanopowder
BLAINE : 359300 cm²/g
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 50 % PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0004 -0.0005 wt %
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 0 % PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0009 wt %
AVERAGE DOSE IN (NON-SHRINKING) GROUT : 0.002 - 0.003 wt %
AVERAGE DOSE PER m3 OF CONCRETE : 3.8g ( 0.11 oz. per cubic yard)
WT % (per m3 of CONCRETE) : 0.00016 %
AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH GAIN**: approx. 12 - 17 % in 24 to 72 hours
QUANTITY | PRICE
25 grams (0.88 oz.) | £ 2,025 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 7 m3 OF CONCRETE
250 grams (8.81. oz) | £ 19,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 70 m3 OF CONCRETE
1 kg (2.2 lb) | £ 75,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 280 m3 OF CONCRETE
BULK ORDER RATES : From 1 Tonne | CONTACT trade@nanoarc.org
APPLICATIONS : Compressive Strength reinforcement, improve workability, UV filtering, Antibacterial, Antifouling, Anticorrosion (resistance to chloride attack), Reduced Alkali Reactivity, Water Repellant, Lower Air permeability, Whitener/colour additive, Halogen-Free Flame Retardant.
Helps in the consolidation of unsound formations, repairing casing leaks in squeeze operations, particularly “tight” leaks that are inaccessible to microfine and conventional cement slurries due to their larger particle size and limited penetrability.
NANOARCHITECTURE : ~ 5 nm (0.005 μm) spherical particles
BLAINE/ SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA : 415300 cm²/g
COLOUR : White Nanopowder
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 50 % LESS PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0003 - 0.0004 wt %
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 0 % PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0008 wt %
AVERAGE DOSE PER m3 OF CONCRETE : 2.9g (~ 0.08 oz. per cubic yard)
WT % (per m3 of CONCRETE) : 0.00012 %
AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH GAIN**: approx. 18 - 22 %
**Strength increases with dose augmentation
**Early strength gain is retarded slightly in days 1-7, when superplasticizers are used but picks up significantly afterwards
MINIMUM REDUCTION (per m3 of CONCRETE) : approx. 11 %
CO2 DEDUCTION (per m3 of CONCRETE) : approx. 237,60 kg (equivalent of ~ 0.24 carbon offset credits)
1 carbon credit = 1 tonne of CO2
QUANTITY | PRICE
25 grams (0.88 oz.) | £ 2,600 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 9 m3 OF CONCRETE
250 grams (8.81 oz.) | £ 25,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 90 m3 OF CONCRETE
1 kg (2.2 lb) | £ 99,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 360 m3 OF CONCRETE
BULK ORDER RATES : From 1 Tonne | CONTACT trade@nanoarc.org
APPLICATIONS : Compressive & Flexural/Tensile Strength reinforcement, improve workability, UV filtering, Antibacterial, Antifouling, Anticorrosion (enhanced resistance to chloride attack), Reduced Alkali Reactivity, Water Repellant, Lower Air permeability, Whitener/colour additive, Halogen-Free Flame Retardant.
Helps in the consolidation of unsound formations, repairing casing leaks in squeeze operations, particularly “tight” leaks that are inaccessible to QuantCrete NANOFILLER, QUANTCEM CURE, microfine and conventional cement slurries due to their larger particle size and limited penetrability.
NANOARCHITECTURE : Atomically Thin 2D sheets ( < 1 nm)
BLAINE : 635200 cm²/g
COLOUR : White Nanopowder
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 50 % LESS PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0002 - 0.00034 wt %
AVERAGE DOSAGE IN CONCRETE AT 0 % PORTLAND CEMENT USAGE : 0.0007 wt %
AVERAGE DOSE PER m3 OF CONCRETE : 2.4g (~ 0.07 oz. per cubic yard)
WT % (per m3 of CONCRETE) : 0.0001 %
AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH GAIN**: approx. 20 - 43 %
AVERAGE FLEXURAL STRENGTH GAIN**: approx. 12 - 40 %
**Strength increases with dose augmentation
**Early strength gain is retarded slightly in days 1-7, when superplasticizers are used but picks up significantly afterwards
MINIMUM CEMENT REDUCTION (per m3 of CONCRETE): approx. 17 %
CO2 DEDUCTION (AT 2.4G DOSE per m3 of CONCRETE) : approx. 367,20 kg (equivalent of ~ 0.37 carbon offset credits)
1 carbon credit = 1 tonne of CO2
QUANTITY | PRICE
25 grams (0.88 oz.) | £ 2,925 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 11 m3 OF CONCRETE
250 grams (8.81. oz) | £ 28,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 110 m3 OF CONCRETE
1kg (2.2 lb) | £ 112,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 440 m3 OF CONCRETE
BULK ORDER RATES : From 1 Tonne | CONTACT trade@nanoarc.org
APPLICATIONS
I. CO2 CAPTURE : The pH of concrete has to stay above 11, for it to remain stable. Carbonation, or CO2 capture in concrete, reduces its pH to ~ 8.3, damaging both rebar & concrete.
QUANTCRETE C-SET efficiently captures CO2 & neutralises the damage from carbonation. It is a concrete nanoadditive, designed to also counteract and neutralise the acidity caused by concrete carbonation. After CO2 capture, its pH value drops to 11.3, which is still within the safe operation range for concrete.
II. SLAG/HIGH ALUMINA CEMENT (HAC/CAC) & FLY ASH ACCELERATOR : HAC is prone to a crystalline re-arrangement (or ‘conversion’), which results in reduced strength and vulnerability to chemical attack and structural failure, when exposed to water for long periods of time.
QUANTCRETE C-SET is recommended for use in conjunction with QUANTCEM as well as cementitious systems based on calcium aluminate cements (CAC) where it accelerates the setting time. This favours a higher usage of fly ash and GGBS-based formulations for an added reduction in carbon footprint, alongside the innate ability of QUANTCRETE C-SET to capture CO2, without compromising concrete durability.
III. RESISTANCE TO ALKALI REACTIVITY (ASR) & SULPHATE ATTACK (TSA) IN CONCRETE & MORTAR: QUANTCRETE C-SET improves cement paste and concrete workability, increases compressive strength and provides resistance to sulphate attack while also reducing the expansion associated with alkali-silica reaction (ASR) in Portland cement formulations.
BLAINE : 506650 cm²/g
COLOUR : White Nanopowder
AVERAGE DOSE IN CEMENT : 0.0002 - 0.001 wt %
WT % (per m3 of CONCRETE) : 0.00013 %
1G (0.035 OZ) DIRECTLY CAPTURES approx. 1100 - 1958 cm3 (i.e. ~ 1.1 - 1.96 kg or 39 - 67 oz. ) of CO2
From the dosage used per cubic metre or cubic yard, the CO2 reductions can be deduced.
AVERAGE DOSE PER m3 OF CONCRETE : 2.8 g (~ 0.08 oz. per cubic yard)
CO2 CAPTURE (per m3 of CONCRETE) : approx. 3.3 - 5.9 kg (116.4 - 208.1 oz)
AVERAGE COMPRESSIVE STRENGTH GAIN**: approx. 16 - 24 %
**Strength increases with dose augmentation
** at higher doses, C-SET allows less cement usage, to further reduce the carbon footprint seamlessly, in a directly measurable manner. Cement, ready-mix and precast manufacturers can run their basic dosage-dependent CO2 reduction calculations based on the following metric:
QUANTITY | PRICE
50 grams (0.88 oz.) | £ 6,160 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 18 m3 OF CONCRETE
250 grams (8.81 oz.) | £ 29,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 90 m3 OF CONCRETE
1kg (2.2 lb) | £ 115,000 VIABLE FOR APPROX. 360 m3 OF CONCRETE
BULK ORDER RATES : From 1 Tonne | CONTACT trade@nanoarc.org