The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Solidia Technologies have entered into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to develop a new, durable, sustainable and cost-effective highway construction material.

Solidia Technologies has developed new technologies for the production of cement and concrete that, when combined, reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions up to 70% while using less water, less curing time and lower kiln temperatures.

Solidia Cement and Solidia Concrete are produced with equipment and materials that are similar to current industry practice, while waste CO2 is recycled in the curing of Solidia Concrete.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the FHWA as we strive to bring our innovation to market."

The agreement aims to address the use of Solidia Concrete in specific transportation infrastructure, including culverts, sound barriers, traffic barriers, pavement and bridge components. It will primarily focus on the properties and performance of Solidia Concrete, with more limited analysis of Solidia Cement.

Under the partnership, the FHWA’s Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center will provide resources for collaborating with Solidia on specific research or development efforts that are in line with its mission.

Solidia Technologies CEO Tom Schuler said: "The agreement with the FHWA accelerates the testing process for our new, sustainable cement and concrete and its application in the transportation infrastructure sector.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the FHWA as we strive to bring our innovation to market."

During the first phase of the agreement the two parties will document the compressive strength, flexural strength, freeze-thaw durability, along with other basic properties of Solidia Concrete. Results are expected in early 2014.