Princeton University researchers develop stronger cement inspired by seashells | News

Engineers at Princeton University have developed a new composite cement, inspired by the material found in some shells, that is 17 times more resistant to cracking than standard cement and 19 times more capable of stretching and warping without to break.

The research team was led by Reza Moini, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. In an article recently published in the journal Advanced functional materialsthe team reported that creating alternating layers of tabulated cement paste and thin polymer can significantly increase the durability of the material.

Often drawing inspiration from biology in their work on building materials, researchers were drawn to a natural material called nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl. The material is produced by some molluscs as the inner layer of the shell, and it is also the material that pearls are made of. According to the researchers, nacre is made of a hard mineral called aragonite, held together by a soft biopolymer. The aragonite contributes to the strength of the nacre, while the biopolymer adds flexibility and crack resistance.

Inspired by nacre, the team developed composites made from conventional building materials, such as Portland cement paste, combined with a highly stretchable polymer. They created small multi-layer beams by alternating layers of these materials. The beams were then tested in bending to assess crack resistance. They were compared to a reference solid cast cement paste. The reference beams failed abruptly when they reached their failure point, while the alternate-layer beams exhibited increased malleability and cracking resistance.

The researchers said more work and research is needed to develop the techniques for use in the field. Additionally, they are currently working to determine whether this process can be applied to ceramic materials other than cement paste, such as concrete.