Method for improving the strength of concrete material

A method for the improving a strength, durability, and/or early-stage performance of a concrete material, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a carrier suitable for carbon dioxide adsorption;
• modifying a surface of the carrier to alter a carbon dioxide desorption rate thereof, forming a modified carrier;
• the modified carrier being formed by treating the carrier with an activating agent or surface modifying agent, and the activating agent or surface modifying agent being any one of:
• potassium hydroxide;
• sodium hydroxide;
• magnesium hydroxide;
• magnesium chloride;
• ammonium chloride;
• zinc chloride;
• potassium carbonate;
• sodium carbonate;
• potassium tetraborate;
• potassium oxalate;
• potassium phosphate;
• ammonia;
• nitric acid;
• hydrochloric acid;
• phosphoric acid;
• ammonia;
• nitric acid;
• hydrogen cyanide;
• urea;
• sodium amide;
• pyridine;
• melamine;
• polyaniline;
• aminoalkyltrialkoxysilane;
• cyclic acid anhydride;
• branched polyethylene amine;
• chemical oxidants;
• carbodiimide activating agents;
• or polymeric surface functionalization compound;
• passing carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source over the modified carrier to form a carrier comprising adsorbed carbon dioxide;
• mixing the carrier comprising adsorbed carbon dioxide into a wet, semi-dry or dry concrete mix to form a concrete carrier mix;
• and
• wherein, during the curing process to form the concrete material, the carbon dioxide is released from the carrier in the concrete-carrier mix and becomes sequestered within the concrete material.