PHD Materials Inc.
Industrializing 500 million years of marine biomineralization
A biomimetic platform for low-carbon cement alternatives and ocean restoration.
The Challenge
Two parallel environmental crises with no integrated solution.
Cement & CO₂
The cement industry contributes 7-8% of global CO₂ emissions, with 4 billion tonnes produced annually worldwide.Ocean Warming
Sea surface temperatures have risen +1.5°C since pre-industrial, driving mass coral bleaching events globally.Ocean Acidification
Ocean pH has dropped 0.1 since pre-industrial, weakening coral calcification and marine biodiversity.
Our Approach
Biomimetic Aragonite Synthesis
PHD Materials has developed a proprietary process to synthesize aragonite — the same calcium carbonate mineral that builds coral skeletons — at ambient temperature using a magnesium-catalyzed biomimetic pathway.What nature has perfected over 500 million years, we now industrialize.
Our process targets:- Projected -0.8 kg CO₂ per kg of binder (laboratory validation in progress)
- Chemically identical to coral skeleton (100% biocompatible)
- Ambient temperature operation (minimal energy input)
- Multiple ocean and industrial applications
Applications
One Chemistry, Multiple Markets
PHD Materials' biomimetic aragonite platform addresses three high-impact market verticals.
Marine Construction
Mixed cement matrix for ports, jetties, breakwaters, and other marine infrastructure requiring long-term durability and low environmental impact.Coral Reef Restoration
Biocompatible substrates and bio-glue alternatives for direct coral restoration — replacing corroding steel, toxic adhesives, and microplastic-based systems currently used by NGOs and conservation foundations.Long-Term Carbon Sequestration
Marine carbon dioxide removal solutions leveraging the natural ocean carbonate cycle for durable CO₂ storage (subject to regulatory frameworks).
Innovation & IP
Strong Intellectual Property Foundation
PHD Materials maintains an active intellectual property portfolio with multiple filed patent families covering core process innovations, material compositions, and application methods.
- Multiple patent families filed with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO/OPIC)
- International PCT filing planned for early 2027
- Academic research partnerships established with leading Canadian universities (under NDA)
- External characterization work in progress Q3-Q4 2026
Our innovation is rooted in 500 million years of evolutionary optimization by marine calcifiers — corals, mollusks, foraminifera, and other biomineralization specialists.
Founder
Pierre-Hugues Demers-Martel
Founder, PHD Materials Inc.
12 years of industrial materiality and asset valuation expertise. Inventor of the PHD Materials biomimetic aragonite synthesis process. Based in Montréal, Quebec.
PHD Materials operates as a focused R&D-stage venture, working in collaboration with Canadian academic partners, industry mentors, and Canada's growing cleantech innovation ecosystem.
Contact
Get in touch
For partnership inquiries, research collaboration, or investor relations:
Email: [email protected]
Location: Montréal, Quebec, Canada
PHD Materials Inc. is a Canadian corporation (NEQ 1181900979).