Brief
Using 3D-printed concrete in home construction can reduce CO2 emissions, according to a study by University of Tehran researchers. The researchers used phase change materials and thermal insulation mixed with a reactive magnesium oxide that had lower adverse environmental effects than conventional portland cement.
Insight
Researchers at the University of Tehran have developed a novel concrete that can be 3D printed into houses in a way that generates 400 times less CO2 emissions than current builds.
In the simulated 3D printing of a home, the team found that using a reactive magnesium oxide mixed with thermal insulation and phase change materials (PCMs) lowered both its energy usage and environmental impact. If deployed on a wider scale, the engineers say the material could help make 3D printing a more attractive tool for tackling both housing shortages and the issue of climate change.
Cleaning up the construction industry
According to European Commission research, conventionally-constructed buildings account for 36% of all CO2 emissions generated in the EU. Of course, due to population increases, affordable housing construction is a necessity, but building these more sustainably is fast becoming a hot topic of research. These studies have often revolved around reducing the cooling and heating loads of buildings.
Doing so is seen as crucial to improving the sustainability of the house building process, as it could help lower the fuel requirements associated with their construction and heating. Previous research has found that one way to improve the thermal performance of such buildings is to 3D print them from PCMs, capable of absorbing heat within a specific range and managing internal temperatures.
However, the Tehran team says these PCMs have proven the ability to “enhance thermal capacity,” but their mechanical properties can decline, hindering their potential for end-use application. The engineers also claim that other materials, in which geo-polymer networks are infused into cement, have a mixed level of success on the environmental front, with some still having a high CO2 footprint.
READ MORE
Recent Comments