Discovered a stronger, more flexible alternative to concrete.

In 2010, Robert Moon brought together some of the brightest minds in science and engineering to work together to determine how cellulose nanocrystal-based materials compare to conventional cement. The group included Jeffrey Youngblood, professor, Purdue University’s School of Materials Engineering; Jason Weiss, director, Kiewit Center for Infrastructure and Transportation Research; Pablo Zavattieri, associate professor of civil engineering, Purdue University; and Yizheng Cao, lead author of the group’s findings. The goal was to make a stronger, more sustainable alternative to cement.

The group proved that the use of cellulose nanocrystals can increase the flexural strength of concrete by 30 percent. Their discovery outperforms alternatives in strength, impact resistance, and flexibility.