alterBiota

Case study · Nova Scotia · Cement Replacement

Casey Concrete: Magnumstone

For a precast concrete pour at Casey Concrete, MagnumStone blocks were manufactured using self consolidating concrete (SCC) with ΔC at a 5% dosage, reducing cement content by 7% and embodied carbon by 22%.

Mix

5%ΔC-CR

Volume

3 m³

GWP reduction

22%

Strength target

35 MPa @ 28 days

Plant pour: Magnumstone molds
Finished Magnumstone block

Casey Concrete Magnumstone block, NS · 5%ΔC-CR · 7% cement reduction · 22% GWP reduction

Project overview

alterBiota's ΔC admixture was used in Magnumstone concrete block production at Casey Concrete in Nova Scotia. The mix was designed using the Cement Replacement (CR) technique at a 5% ΔC dose, enabling a 7% reduction in cement content while targeting the same compressive strength performance.

Volume placed
3 m³
Application
Magnumstone concrete block
Specified strength
35 MPa @ 28 days
Mix design technique
CR (Cement Replacement)
ΔC dose
5% biochar by weight of cement
Cement reduction
7%

Fresh-state performance

ΔC was added as a liquid admixture during standard precast batching, requiring no equipment modifications. The self consolidating concrete (SCC) mix placed normally in the MagnumStone block molds.

GHG reduction analysis

Cement replacement plus biochar carbon storage delivered a 22% reduction in embodied carbon on this pour:

Total GHG savings
−181 kg CO₂ e/m³
Cement reduction
7% vs control
Net GWP vs control
−22% vs control mix

Key benefits

  • 22% embodied carbon reduction on a precast Magnumstone block pour
  • 7% less cement while targeting the same 35 MPa specification
  • Drop-in dosing in an existing precast plant, with no specialty equipment
  • Demonstrates ΔC performance in self-consolidating concrete (SCC) applications

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