Gerdau Graphene Introduces NanoCONS Line of Graphene Admixtures for Concrete

Gerdau Graphene has announced the release of NanoCONS, a new line of graphene admixture solutions designed for the construction industry. The new NanoCONS line of admixtures enables concrete producers to leverage the physical properties of graphene to support the mechanical performance of their concrete products.

Graphene, a 2D carbon nanomaterial, is approximately 100 to 300 times stronger in terms of tensile strength than structural steel.

The integration of NanoCONS into cementitious materials may also reduce carbon emissions associated with concrete production. NanoCONS can help reduce cement consumption without any loss of concrete performance, thereby contributing to more sustainable concrete production.

The NanoCONS line of graphene-enhanced concrete admixtures joins the company’s existing graphene additive lines NanoDUR, NanoLAV and NanoCORR designed for paints and coatings as well as Poly-G, commercially produced graphene additives for the plastics industry.

“The launch of the NanoCONS line reflects our team’s efforts in research and applied development aimed at developing industry-leading solutions for the construction industry and underscores our commitment to enhancing the performance, durability, and overall sustainability of industrial products,” said Valdirene Peressinotto, executive and innovation director at Gerdau Graphene.

NanoCONS W104

The first product in the NanoCONS line, NanoCONS W104, is a water-based graphene nanoplate admixture that can be applied to cementitious matrices such as cement pastes, mortars and concretes to support physical properties such as durability, mechanical strength, impermeability and other desired performance attributes. 

NanoCONS W104 was developed for application in precast concrete and offers precast concrete producers:

• Mechanical strength: NanoCONS W104 improves the compressive strength performance of concrete by up to 50% in industrial testing. As a result, reinforced precast concrete structures like bridges and buildings can bear more weight and withstand more force.
• Water management: NanoCONS W104 is dispersed in the mixing water during concrete production and can contribute to reducing water consumption by 10% to 20% while maintaining the same workability.
• Durability: NanoCONS W104 improves the microstructure of concrete by reducing its porosity and susceptibility to deleterious agents (like CO₂ and chloride ingress). This extends the lifespan of concrete and promotes concrete resilience even in challenging environments.
• Fast-drying concrete: NanoCONS W104 has been shown to increase the speed of concrete setting time by an average of 30%. In industrial studies, setting time was reduced from 18 hours to 12 hours, enabling fast construction.

“Gerdau has a broad portfolio of solutions for the construction industry, with products for foundations, structures, rebars, profiles and trusses, among many others,” said Elder Rapachi, executive director of Gerdau Next. Gerdau Graphene is a Gerdau Next company, a new business unit created by Gerdau with the aim of diversifying the company's portfolio with products and services in segments adjacent to steel.

“The development of graphene solutions for the construction sector enriches the ecosystem of the entire company. Through Gerdau Next, we can help complement end-to-end service for our customers, offering innovative graphene technologies from Gerdau Graphene in addition to services from other Gerdau Next companies," said Rapachi.