Australian calcined clay may be the next best concrete alternative to reduce emissions in the construction industry.
Calcined clay concrete sample preparation at UTS Boral Centre for Sustainable Building.
A $1.67 million research project is in development with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), SmartCrete Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Boral Limited, Transport NSW and Calix Limited. The industry partnership seeks to develop lower carbon concrete with Australian calcined clay.
As Australia transitions from coal-fired power, traditional Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) like fly ash and slag will be limited. Finding an alternative, while meeting Australia’s building and construction standards, is imperative.
With clay being one of the most abundant materials in Australia, calcined clay offers a promising solution. We are excited to collaborate with SmartCrete CRC, UTS, Transport for NSW and Calix to explore its potential and bring this technology to the Australian construction industry.
Dr Ali Nezhad, Head of Sustainability at Boral.
UTS’s lead researcher on the project, Dr Paul Thomas, will evaluate calcined clay as a viable alternative, testing its durability and sustainability against existing cement technologies.
“Combining UTS’s research capabilities with Boral's industry experience ensures a comprehensive evaluation of calcined clay. This will not only establish its viability as a low carbon binder but also pave the way for its practical implementation within the construction industry,” said Dr Paul Thomas.
The collaboration between industry and researchers will drive significant sustainable improvement, lowering C02 emissions within the construction sector.
“The partnership with Boral, UTS, Transport of NSW and Calix is not just about research – it is about actionable change,” said Clare Tubolets, SmartCrete CRC CEO.