| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biological Materials Science
|
| Presentation Title |
Durable Enzymatic Structural Materials with High Strength (ESM) Materials (ECM) |
| Author(s) |
Shuai Wang, Nima Rahbar, Suzanne Scarlate |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Shuai Wang |
| Abstract Scope |
Designing low-carbon construction materials with high strength is vital for sustainable building practices. A key challenge is the water durability of current biological materials, which typically require a water-resistant protective layer. We propose a novel approach using capillary suspension, a technique that harnesses capillary forces to aggregate particles within a liquid matrix, coupled with carbonic anhydrase extracted from bovine erythrocytes. This method produces a robust, novel construction material, Enzymatic Structural Material (ESM), which incorporates precipitated calcium minerals into its sand and polymer structure, resulting in higher water durability. ESM exhibits a mechanical strength of 25 MPa, surpassing the minimum strength of structural concrete, and consumes 18.5 lb of CO2 per cubic yard during production, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. This makes ESM a promising alternative for sustainable construction, potentially replacing traditional concrete with a low-carbon, water-resistant material suitable for diverse building applications. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Biomaterials, Sustainability, Mechanical Properties |