Project description
Eco-friendly marine resources to build durable, climate-neutral infrastructure
Reinforced concrete structures in coastal regions are constantly threatened by salt damage. When chloride ions from marine environments penetrate concrete, they corrode the internal steel rebar, causing premature structural failure. Traditional construction uses scarce freshwater and washed sand to avoid this. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the Cl-BIND project will turn this vulnerability into an advantage. Researchers will explore how low-carbon cement binders can actively trap and stabilise chloride ions within their chemical matrix. The team will use nuclear magnetic resonance and real-time X-ray diffraction to monitor these ion interactions at a microscopic scale. This critical data should allow engineers to safely substitute freshwater with seawater and sea sand.
Objective
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.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands
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