Paula Montserrat Torres is a PhD student at EMPA, working on the SNSF-funded project «Low Carbon Magnesium-based binders» under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Barbara Lothenbach and Dr. Frank Winnefeld. Her research topic focuses on the hydration and carbonation conditions of HMC cements.

The aim of her work is to investigate the hydration processes and the phase formation in MgO/nesquehonite blends, as well as to gain further insight into their strength development and the CO2 storage capacity over time.

Her research involves studying hydration reactions, analysing solid and liquid phases, conducting mortar strength tests and performing thermodynamic modelling. Her experimental approach combines XRD, TGA, FTIR, isothermal calorimetry, ion chromatography and total carbon analysis.

Related projects: Hydrated magnesium carbonates (HMCs)