(722d) Sustainable Processing of Composite Materials

Utilization of captured carbon dioxide (CO₂) by converting it into valuable products, such as fuels, chemicals, plastics, and building materials is needed to offset the >36 GT/y of anthropogenic emissions. This presentation will describe two breakthrough processes invented and patented by Rutgers University: Hydrothermal Vapor Synthesis (HVS) and Gas-assisted Reactive Hydrothermal Liquid Phase Densification (g-rHLPD). These processes collectively enable the production of ceramics with a greatly reduced carbon footprint, which in many cases can be carbon negative. HVS enables the production of feedstock anhydrous inorganic oxides, an essential precursor for carbonate ceramics, at temperatures <500ËšC, which is up to 1000ËšC lower than the temperatures of traditional pyrothermal reactions. g-rHLPD is a low temperature (<100ËšC) densification process using CO₂ as a reactant with anhydrous oxides for creating strong, dense carbonate-bound ceramics with outstanding physical and chemical properties. Materials produced from HVS and g-rHLPD have utility for both commodity-based concrete and advanced composite materials that can substitute for wood, fiber-reinforced resins and even steel. Materials produced with these technologies will be presented and compared with the incumbent materials to demonstrate the outstanding future awaiting carbonate-based materials.