Calgary’s cracked sidewalks could be solved by graphene [Video]

SAIT students in the Civil Engineering Technology program believe they have created the right mix of concrete and graphene to combat the city’s growing sidewalk problem, due to freeze-thaw cycles. 

“Yesterday was, what? 20 C. It’s going to probably snow tonight or tomorrow. That really affects our sidewalks, with the soil base underneath, to cause all these cracks and fractures,” said student Derrick Leung, who started the project with three of his classmates. 

“So with graphene, it’s supposed to make it more durable, more flexible than conventional crushed concrete.”

Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon, which is strong, flexible and has high resistance.

Leung, along with Tony Ly, Pinyo Sirisettanan and Chi Kin Wong, began researching the benefits of graphene in concrete before doing a lab test. 

The hope is to save money and reduce the city’s carbon footprint. 

As part of their capstone …