NMR Insights into Dynamic Salt Ion Binding and Stability Regulation in Low-Carbon Binders

Descripción del proyecto

Recursos marinos sostenibles para unas infraestructuras duraderas y climáticamente neutras

En las regiones costeras, las estructuras de hormigón armado están expuestas a los daños provocados por la sal. Cuando los iones de cloruro del medio marino penetran en el hormigón, corroen las armaduras de acero internas, lo que provoca un fallo estructural prematuro. Para evitar estos daños, la construcción tradicional utiliza agua dulce, un recurso escaso, y arena lavada. En el proyecto Cl-BIND, que cuenta con el respaldo de las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se estudiará la posibilidad de aprovechar la presencia de cloruros en lugar de tratarla únicamente como un problema. Los investigadores estudiarán cómo los aglutinantes de cemento hipocarbónicos pueden atrapar y estabilizar activamente los iones de cloruro en su matriz química. En este sentido, se utilizarán la resonancia magnética nuclear y la difracción de rayos X en tiempo real para supervisar estas interacciones iónicas a escala microscópica. Los datos obtenidos podrían ayudar a los ingenieros a sustituir de forma segura el uso de agua dulce y arena lavada por agua de mar y arena marina.

Objetivo

This project, acronym Cl-BIND, aims to advance the fundamental understanding and regulation of chloride ion binding in low-carbon cementitious binders, with the dual goal of promoting the safe use of seawater and sea-sand resources and improving the long-term durability of sustainable construction materials. The key objectives are to clarify the mechanisms and dynamic behaviour of chloride binding, to evaluate the stability of such binding under realistic conditions, and to identify strategies for regulating these processes through binder design. The project will employ a combination of advanced experimental techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD), supported by multiscale microstructural analysis and validation. These approaches will enable real-time monitoring of chloride ion interactions with hydration products, providing direct evidence of binding dynamics and the evolution of stability over time. By linking ion binding behaviour with microstructural development across scales, the study will establish a mechanistic basis for stability regulation in low-carbon binders. Special emphasis will be placed on systems incorporating seawater and sea-sand, providing the critical knowledge required to broaden their safe and sustainable application. The expected outcomes are a mechanistic framework for chloride ion binding and stability regulation in low-carbon binders, with guidance to improve durability in chloride-rich environments. The project combines chemistry, materials science, and engineering validation, aligning with MSCA goals of interdisciplinarity, mobility, and societal impact. It will also train the researcher in advanced in situ and NMR methods, strengthening interdisciplinary skills and career prospects. The results will support the European Green Deal by enabling wider use of seawater-derived resources in low-carbon construction and advancing climate-neutral infrastructure.