Finland’s Betolar Oyj and Hycamite TCD Technologies Oy have signed a commercial agreement to assess the applicability of carbon nanofibres for enhancing the strength properties of concrete and reducing its carbon footprint. The usability of Hycamite’s low-carbon carbon nanofibers as an additive in concrete products and mining applications will be explored in the research project.
The project will conduct suitability testing and develop the quality and usability of the carbon product. The aim is to tailor Hycamite’s carbon product for Betolar, which could then be commercialised as part of Betolar’s high-volume solutions for the mining and metal industries as well as construction.
Hycamite decarbonises industry through its low-carbon hydrogen and provision of sustainable carbon products for demanding industrial applications. Hycamite technology decomposes large volumes of methane into its component elements: hydrogen and carbon.
The TCD technology developed by Hycamite does not release direct greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. When Hycamite’s carbon products are manufactured entirely or partly using biomethane, the carbon originally in the atmosphere can be permanently sequestered in the concrete by using Betolar’s solution. This process creates a carbon sink that reduces atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
“These completely new high-quality industrial materials enable the production of even higher-quality low-carbon concrete. We believe that in the future we will be able to utilise Hycamite’s carbon product in applications such as shotcrete for mines, hollow core slab production, and other concrete products,” says Tuija Kalpala, CEO of Betolar.
“Collaboration with Betolar is an exciting opportunity for Hycamite. Both companies share the same values aiming to reduce the carbon footprint in the future on global markets. The carbon product we are developing for Betolar produces no direct emissions, and the process’s energy consumption is low. Through our collaboration, we can demonstrate that our carbon products can help reduce the carbon footprint of construction while improving quality,” says Niina Grönqvist, Vice President, Carbon Products and one of the founders of Hycamite.