Overview
TEG-BETON improves concrete comprehensively using nano-carbon (graphene and graphene-like) reinforcement at very low additive concentrations. The key enabler is an in-house low-cost water-based graphene suspension that drops the effective graphene price to ~$0.05/g or below, versus $10–50/g for CVD graphene — making industrial-scale nano-reinforced concrete economically viable.
Applications
High-performance concrete in civil engineering; bridges, tunnels, and load-bearing infrastructure; durable concrete for extreme environments; lightweight concrete with improved mechanical resistance.
Users: construction, infrastructure, and civil-engineering sectors.
Operating Principle
A dilute graphene suspension, dosed at a small fraction of a percent of cement weight, is mixed into concrete, where graphene-like structures refine crystal growth and reinforce the cement matrix, raising strength and water resistance at minimal additive load. Uses proprietary synthesis, dispersion, dosing, and mixing equipment.
Limitations: gains depend on dispersion quality and consistency at scale; figures are upper-range claims.
Key Parameters
Graphene dosage: a small fraction of a percent by cement weight. Compressive strength: +50–150 %. Flexural strength: +30–120 %. Improved water resistance; reduced crystal size. Graphene cost: ~$0.05/g (vs $10–50/g CVD). Performance repeatability confirmed in lab and field trials.
Note: strength gains are upper-range claims requiring batch-consistent validation.
Architecture and Components
In-house graphene synthesis + water-based dispersion; proprietary dosing and mixing equipment; standard concrete batching integration; patent-protected process.
Advantages
Technical: large strength/flexural gains at <0.05 % additive; improved durability and water resistance; refined microstructure. Economic: ~$0.05/g graphene makes nano-reinforcement industrially affordable; minimal dosage. Strategic: patent-protected suspension and equipment; drop-in for existing concrete production.
Integrations
Part of the ARBOK TEG/graphene material family; integrates with standard concrete batching; complements Electroconcrete, Green Concrete, Geo-Polymer Arbok, and other TEG products.
Deployment & Operation
Steps: produce/disperse graphene suspension → dose into concrete mix at trace-level concentration → batch and place with standard equipment. Stable performance reported in lab and field. Remaining: broad standardization and large-project qualification.
TRL
TRL 7 (confirmed by Michael). Prototype in operational environment: synthesis, dispersion, dosing, and mixing demonstrated with repeatable lab and field performance, approaching full qualification/standardization. (Consistent with the lower bound of the legacy "TRL 8–9" claim.)
TRL scale:
- TRL 1 — basic principles observed
- TRL 2 — technology concept formulated
- TRL 3 — experimental proof-of-concept
- TRL 4 — validated in lab
- TRL 5 — validated in relevant environment
- TRL 6 — demonstrated in relevant environment
- TRL 7 — prototype in operational environment ← TEG-BETON
- TRL 8 — system complete and qualified
- TRL 9 — proven in operational environment
Market Potential
Concrete is the most-used construction material globally; affordable graphene reinforcement that boosts strength and durability at <0.05 % dosage addresses high-performance and infrastructure concrete markets, with the cost breakthrough ($0.05/g) removing the main barrier to adoption.
Typical Project Economics
Very low additive cost (~$0.05/g at trace-level dosage) delivers large strength and durability gains, allowing reduced material volume or longer structure life for a given design load. Economics are driven primarily by material cost rather than capital equipment, since dosing integrates into standard concrete batching; favorable and indicative, pending project-scale validation of CAPEX/OPEX/payback at full commercial deployment.
Risk Factors
Strength gains depend on dispersion uniformity — agglomeration at scale erodes performance. Upper-range figures need batch-consistent validation. Standardization/certification for structural use pending. Dependence on proprietary suspension/equipment supply. Quality control of graphene suspension is the key operational risk.
Related Technologies
Electroconcrete · Green Concrete · Geo-Polymer Arbok · Modified Glassy Carbon (GCM)