Collaborate Disseminate
It sounds like the premise of a comedy sketch, but researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo led by Yuya Sakai have developed a way to recycle food scraps into construction materials that are stronger than concrete, … Continue reading Food scraps recycled into materials stronger than concrete, yet edible
Given its status as the most widely-used manufactured material on Earth, reducing the huge environmental footprint of concrete would have significant consequences for the health of the planet. Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) h… Continue reading Eco-friendly concrete swaps out sand for activated clay
Concrete is pretty useful, which is why it’s the most widely used construction material in the world. But it could be argued that it doesn’t really do anything. Now, engineers have made concrete that can conduct electricity and produce heat, by mixing … Continue reading Dash of nanocarbon black makes conductive, heat-generating concrete
A six-year competition to capture CO2 emissions from operational power plants and convert them into useful products has drawn to a close, and produced dual winners with technologies that promise to reduce the environmental footprint of concrete. The US… Continue reading Fresh recipes for low-carbon concrete take out $20-million XPrize
Concrete is the most commonly used building material in the world, but unfortunately the cement used to make it carries quite a carbon footprint. Now, scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a cement-free alternative that directly bonds sand… Continue reading Cement-free concrete recipe bonds sand using alcohol
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new process to convert old tires into graphene, which can then be used to make concrete. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, but the team says the resulting concrete is substantially stronger.Co… Continue reading Graphene made from old tires helps strengthen concrete
Reinforced concrete beams serve as important structural elements for buildings and bridges, but they are long and heavy and therefore require large machinery to both transport and install. Researchers at Spain’s Polytechnic University of Valencia have … Continue reading Lego-like 3D-printed beams offer lightweight alternative to concrete
Concrete is one of the world’s most commonly used materials, and unfortunately its production is a major source of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Now, engineers at Purdue University have developed a new cement recipe that can absorb CO2 twice as fas… Continue reading New concrete recipe improves its carbon capture efficiency
Aside from simply finding a new use for discarded goods, we’ve seen how adding recycled rubber tires to concrete can make the material stronger and more heat resistant. New research has continued to expand the possibilities in this area, with scientist… Continue reading Tires and building rubble combine for 35% stronger concrete
As we’ve seen through recently constructed office buildings in Dubai, bridges in the Netherlands and low-cost housing in Latin America, 3D printing is beginning to shape the way modern structures are formed, and new research could further widen the pot… Continue reading Lobster shells inspire stronger 3D-printed concrete