These bio-bricks, developed by researchers at the Indian School of Design and Innovation in Mumbai, consist of soil, cement, charcoal, and organic loofah fibers, better known as loofah, a plant that is commonly used to make bath sponges. The key difference from conventional bricks is air. because the blocks contain more air pockets than the standard ones, making them 20 times more porous. These air bubbles, created by natural gaps in the loofah’s fibrous mesh, are important for plants and because they allow bricks to shelter the lives of animals and plants.
Bio-bricks from loofah
Transparent wood
Transparent wood is a revolutionary invention in the construction industry. It has the same strength as lumber but is lighter. This advanced material is made by pressing and treating thin wood strips with polymers. Transparent wood is an excellent alternative to glass and plastic. It does not break on impact and is stronger than glass. It eliminates glare and helps maintain a constant temperature in the building. This material also reduces energy consumption by minimizing the need for artificial lighting. Usually, it is the roof and walls.
Carbon reinforced concrete This newly developed type of concrete is reinforced with carbon fiber filaments, so a design of the same strength requires much less of the concrete itself. Its creation was carried out by researchers from the Technical University of Dresden.
3-D graphene Graphene is a single atomic layer of carbon atoms organized into a hexagonal lattice. When sheets of graphene are neatly stacked on top of each other, they form a three-dimensional shape. This innovative building material is ten times stronger than steel with a density of only 5%. Cylindrical structures are created from 3D graphene to support skyscrapers and other tall buildings.
Self-healing concrete This is an innovative type of concrete that mimics the self-healing properties of the human body. It is believed that this could be a breakthrough in the construction industry. The material will allow you to create structures without worrying about their intensive maintenance and damage. Self-healing concrete is produced by mixing adhesive properties and healing agents or bacteria in a concrete mixture. Such properties of concrete increase its service life and reduce repair costs.
Hemp rebar Hemp rebar is being developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the United States. It turns out that hemp is one of the most carbon-absorbing plants in the world. It is hoped that it will become an inexpensive low-carbon alternative to standard steel reinforcement, and will also avoid the problem of corrosion, prolonging the service life of concrete structures.
Light-generating cement It turns out that cement can absorb sunlight during the day and emit light at night. Currently, light-generating cement comes in two colors, blue and green. This material can be used in parking lots, swimming pools, and on sidewalks.
Mycelium 3D printed While Stella McCartney makes fashionable tops from mycelium, builders master the branching vegetative part of the fungus for their own purposes. The London-based company Blast Studio developed a method of 3D printing using mycelium and used it to form a support. The column was built by mixing mycelium with raw materials from used coffee cups collected throughout London.
Alusion aluminum panels Alusion panels are among the most innovative materials in the construction industry. They are a form of cladding made of stabilized aluminum foam. They are strong and lightweight like metal sponges, fireproof, soundproof, and easy to install. They are usually used as wall panels, ceilings, lamps, and floor coverings.
Bioplastic cladding Made of Air, a German startup that produces environmentally friendly materials uses the eponymous patented bioplastic to absorb contaminants. It is a non-toxic substance made from biochar. The charcoal-like material is almost pure carbon and is produced by burning biomass, such as wood scraps and secondary agricultural materials (the process goes on without access to oxygen)