ERI: understanding how nanoparticles influence carbon storage in cement-based materials

The National Science Foundation Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation awarded Texas State University $200,000 on September 1, 2026, under the Engineering Research Initiation program to investigate how nanoscale additives influence carbonation processes in cement-based materials.

The research examines how nanoparticles affect the formation, structure, and stability of calcium carbonate when cement-based materials are exposed to carbon dioxide. The project combines controlled carbonation experiments with microstructural characterization and mechanical testing to establish links between nanoscale processes and bulk material properties, including strength and durability. Environmental performance will be evaluated using life cycle assessment and decision-making tools. The work aims to advance fundamental understanding of how carbonation can be directed under controlled conditions to improve material density, durability, and mechanical properties, while supporting infrastructure reliability and training students in experimental materials research and characterization.

Performance occurs in San Marcos, Texas, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028.

Abstract

Cement-based materials are widely used in civil infrastructure, but their long-term performance depends on how they respond to environmental exposure over time. This engineering research initiation (ERI) project examines carbonation, a process in which carbon dioxide reacts with cement hydration products to form calcium carbonate, densifying the microstructure of the material. While carbonation during natural environmental exposure is normally detrimental to durability, under controlled conditions IT can improve material density, durability, and mechanical properties. This difference in behavior highlights the importance of understanding how carbonation can be directed rather than simply observed as an environmental process. Nanoscale additives have shown potential to influence these reactions, yet their role in controlling material behavior is not well understood. This work investigates how such nanomaterials affect carbonation processes, with the goal of improving the strength, durability, and service life of cement-based materials. The project supports national needs by advancing infrastructure reliability and by training students in experimental materials research and characterization. The research focuses on how nanoscale additives affect the formation, structure, and stability of calcium carbonate in cement-based materials exposed to carbon dioxide. IT examines how these additives influence crystal type, growth, and distribution at different stages of carbonation, and how these changes relate to strength and durability. The study combines controlled carbonation experiments with microstructural characterization and mechanical testing to establish links between nanoscale processes and bulk properties. Environmental performance will be evaluated using life cycle assessment and decision-making tools. The results will advance the fundamental understanding of carbon dioxide mineralization in modified cement systems and support the design of infrastructure materials with improved durability and reliability. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.