HydroGraph Clean Power Inc., Ontario-based high purity graphene producer, has announced findings of its second research study in partnership with Arizona State University, highlighting potential advancements in extending the use of the company’s Fractal Graphene into cement and concrete applications. Co-authored by Chief Science Officer Ranjith Divigalpitiya, the study validates the potential of HydroGraph’s graphene in revolutionizing the construction industry, with graphene-enhanced concretes offering practical and sustainable options for high-performance applications—from ultra-strong construction materials to cutting-edge 3D printing techniques.
HydroGraph and ASU investigators have confirmed that ultra-low doses of Fractal Graphene (0.02 percent by weight of cement) can enable higher use of supplementary cementitious materials in concrete mix designs while delivering up to 70 percent better early-age performance. Further, two HydroGraph formulations—Fractal Graphene and Reactive Graphene—were incorporated into cementitious binders at ultra-low dosages (≤0.02 percent by weight of the binder, rather than the total weight of cement mixture) in the study. The addition of HydroGraph’s graphene in minimal quantities led to impressive results, including significantly improving compressive strength by up to 21 percent after 28-day curing. The increase in strength enables a cement content reduction up to 17 percent while maintaining the same level of strength.
“These findings support the use of HydroGraph’s graphene in innovative concrete solutions, such as ultra-high-performance concretes and 3D-printed structures, while promoting sustainability,” says ASU School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment Professor Narayanan Neithalath, who led the research.
HydroGraph’s graphene production method is cost-effective, environmentally friendly and scalable, addressing common barriers to its use. By reducing the cement content in concrete, graphene helps lower carbon emissions associated with finished concrete. With a potential 14 percent reduction in emissions, the Fractal and Reactive Graphene innovations could offset 400 million tons or 1 percent of global CO2 emissions, annually.
The Global Cement and Concrete Association has aligned with Paris Agreement targets, committing the industry to reducing emissions 25 percent by 2030. More than 40 leading cement companies have joined the UN’s Race to Zero campaign. Among individual commitments from major producers: Holcim Ltd. has pledged carbon-neutral operations by 2050; Cemex S.A.B. de C.V. is targeting 35 percent reduction in CO2 by 2030; and, Heidelberg Materials is aiming for carbon-neutral concrete by 2050.
HydroGraph is poised to join these producers in reducing carbon emissions by pushing for sustainable concrete production practices. “Our Fractal Graphene has been shown to perform very well, as an additive, in many forms of composites, leading to significant light weighting in these applications. With the present study, we are extending the applicability of Hydrograph’s Fractal Graphene into cement and concrete applications, where we show the possibility of making high performing construction materials with significantly improved sustainability,” says HydroGraph CEO Kjirstin Breure.
Ahead of the ASU study findings, HydroGraph outlined the prospects for scaling Fractal and Reactive Graphene production in modular reactors equipped for annual output of 10 metric tons.