MIT students have developed a form of concrete using recycled plastic water bottles. The new material is 20 percent stronger than traditional concrete and could help cut the cement industry’s carbon emissions.
Concrete is one of the most common materials on Earth, thanks to its high strength and low cost – but it’s also one of the largest single sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Engineers at Washington State University (WSU) have developed a new method for making concrete that absorbs more carbon t... Read more
World’s first fully recycled concrete developed by Holcim Innovation Center Construction of 220-unit social housing complex outside Paris Advancing circular...
MIT students have developed a form of concrete using recycled plastic water bottles. The new material is 20 percent stronger than traditional concrete and could help cut the cement industry’s carbon emissions.
Following the successful take-up in markets where building materials company Holcim is present, local subsidiary Lafarge South Africa (SA) on July 18 launched its lower-carbon cement ECOPact to the domestic market.
Compared with CEM I – Portland cement containing a maximum of 5% of other material... Read more
Concrete may seem strong and permanent, but it can be surprisingly vulnerable to the elements. Now researchers at Drexel University have demonstrated a type of self-healing concrete embedded with “BioFibers” that use bacteria to patch up cracks as they form.
UP MTech student Ramansh Bajpai created a ‘transparent’ concrete which is 23% stronger, 15% lighter and free from carbon dioxide! It is also much cheaper and can reduce electricty use by 30%.
You just need a scaled-down cut-out image of the building from above, then use a guide to follow the shape of the jig – to allow the material to fall in the right place, you could even sell lots of 1-metre square jigs of different shapes of a building, for example, the castle.
Man 3D-Prints Castle In Back Garden Using Concrete Printer He Invented
INTRODUCING BOD2
BOD2 is an upgraded and improved version of the printer which
was used to 3D print the first building in Europe, The BOD.
Based on the experience obtained with the BOD printer, the BOD2 incorporates improved functionality and stability compared to the first version. It is ... Read more
Reinforcing concrete with plastic creates a sustainable concrete mixture, while also protecting the environment from plastic pollution.
Check out these MIT students who used plastic bottles to make stronger concrete.
https://news.mit.edu/2017/fortify-concrete-adding-recycled-plastic-1025
Plastic-reinforced concrete
(5 upvotes)Green concrete
(7 upvotes)It has been done in Australia, with recycled plastic being used as an alternative to steel.
These researchers discovered a way to manufacture concrete that absorbs CO2!
https://newatlas.com/materials/carbon-negative-concrete-treated-biochar/
This company has developed an eco-friendly concrete mix made from 100% recycled materials.
https://www.holcim.com/media/company-news/seqens-first-fully-recycled-concrete-building
You can add recycled plastic to concrete, creating stronger structures while reducing plastic pollution.
Plastic-reinforced concrete
(5 upvotes)Green concrete
(7 upvotes)This low-carbon concrete by a South African company can significantly improve the sustainability of the global construction industry.
https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/lafarge-launches-ecopact-cement-with-as-much-as-100-less-embodied-carbon-emissions-2022-07-19
It would also make it easy to repair concrete sewer pipes!
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/self-healing-concrete-repair-sewage-pipes
This concrete would be perfect for repairing roads and other structures that experience excessive wear and tear.
Self-healing concrete might be the secret behind the strength and durability of ancient Roman structures.
Check out this self-repairing concrete at work
Scientists are infusing concrete with dormant bacteria to give it self-healing properties.
https://newatlas.com/materials/self-healing-concrete-cracks-bacteria/
Translucent concrete is a technology that can make buildings brighter and more energy efficient.
This is so cool! A wonder of modern architecture.
You just need a scaled-down cut-out image of the building from above, then use a guide to follow the shape of the jig – to allow the material to fall in the right place, you could even sell lots of 1-metre square jigs of different shapes of a building, for example, the castle.
Think big – this is huge, could work for building schools and hospitals in unlucky countries…
This can print a house for 4 grand. But the machine is so expensive that its no use to those who need housing the most.