NSERC’s Awards Database
Award Details

Characterization of the properties and performance of concrete masonry units produced using carbonation curing as an alternative to steam curing

Research Details
Application Id: 401493-2010
Competition Year: 2010 Fiscal Year: 2010-2011
Project Lead Name: Forgeron, Dean Institution: Dalhousie University
Department: Civil and Resource Engineering Province: Nova Scotia
Award Amount: $25,000 Installment: 1 - 1
Program: Engage Grants Program Selection Committee: Atlantic Internal Decision Committee
Research Subject: Civil engineering Area of Application: Materials performance
Co-Researchers: No Co-Researcher Partners: Carbon Sense Solutions Inc.
Award Summary

Carbon Sense Solutions (CSS) is a Halifax-based company specializing in Carbon Capture and Storage
Technologies that has developed a technology which captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial
sources and incorporates them into the production process of dry cast concrete products. The unique CO2
accelerated concrete curing process is intended to replace heat and steam curing for dry precast products. This
process permanently locks away (sequesters) CO2 emissions in concrete resulting in substantial economic,
environmental and product benefits.
This proposed project is intended to engage CSS into research at Dalhousie University focused on assessing
and comparing the performance of concrete masonry units (CMU's) made using conventional concrete curing
and the C02 accelerated curing process developed by CSS. The intent is to study in detail the carbonation
process that occurs in an industrial setting in order to help optimize the process as well as help forecast
potential future applications for the technology. The research will focus on the standardized testing procedures
and other testing techniques to study the extent of carbonation and the microstructure characteristics to