Using Sustainable Biochar to Lower the Detrimental Effects of Fire in Concrete
At present, concrete has two major issues. On one hand, although concrete is not flammable, it suffers significantly from fire damage. In particular, fire exposure results in spalling, loss of strength and stiffness and as a result, concrete’s load-bearing capacity is reduced. On the other hand, the cement in concrete has a huge carbon footprint, which is damaging to the environment. Therefore, rendering concrete structures fire-safe, while enhancing their sustainability, is of utmost importance to safeguard the lives of humans, to protect valuable assets and curb carbon dioxide emissions. In light of the risk of fire damage to concrete, it is critical that some bio-based and renewable constituents are employed that can address the aforementioned issues while still imparting sustainability.