Brief
Researchers at the University of Kentucky are investigating how human hair can be used to make the concrete construction process more sustainable. Discover how they are turning hair clippings from salons into thin sheets to produce concrete construction forms.
Insight
Researchers from the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky are exploring ways to make the concrete construction process more sustainable by using human hair as a fiber reinforcement. Bridges and buildings in Kentucky are rapidly aging and more than 1,100 of them are classified as structurally deficient.
The researchers propose using human hair clippings as a renewable resource to reinforce concrete construction forms. The hair is cleaned with water and acidic liquid before being mixed with a binder, which consists of water and grain flour. The resulting mixture is pressed into thin sheets to produce the concrete construction forms.
Human hair has an average strength of 30 kilopounds per square inch, compared to 20 KSI for sheep wool, 60 KSI for steel rebars, and 70 KSI for silkworm fibers. The research team believes that human hair is a renewable resource that can help improve the sustainability of the construction industry.
The CatStrong team comprises undergraduate, graduate, and even high school students who are working to develop the technology. The research builds on the work completed by CatStrong in using carbon fiber fabrics, panels, and wraps to restore more than 40 Kentucky bridges.
Over the last two decades, more than 70 undergraduates and 25 high school students have been part of the research team. They are involved in every aspect of CatStrong, from design to development. The team is currently experimenting with different ingredients for natural binders to determine the ideal mix and molding process.
Using human hair to reinforce concrete construction forms may sound strange, but the benefits are undeniable. This research could have a significant impact on the construction industry, particularly in terms of sustainability.
Highlight
- The use of recycled human hair in construction materials as a potential solution to making the construction process more sustainable.
- Human hair has an average strength of 30 kilopounds per square inch, compared to 20 KSI for sheep wool, 60 KSI for steel rebars, and 70 KSI for silkworm fibers.
- The benefits of using human hair as a material in construction, including its high strength compared to other materials.
- The success of CatStrong’s previous work using carbon fiber fabrics, panels, and wraps to restore more than 40 Kentucky bridges by strengthening beams, columns, piles, and walls.
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