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Researchers at the School of Architecture and Building studying the use of nanosilica and paper sludge to obtain a building material which will reduce the energy consumption of buildings
Build a recycled material that reduces the energy consumption of buildings and incidentally generate much lighter than conventional concrete and better resist in an earthquake is not an alchemist's dream, but the goal of researchers from the School of Architecture and Building concrete Polytechnic University of Cartagena (UPCT), who are developing a lightweight Ecohormigón (Eco_Hul) with funding from the Centre for Industrial Technological Development (CDTI) and the company Cementos de la Cruz.
"The research project arises from the environmental and social problems derived from the production, storage and generation in large daily amounts of industrial waste.
The reuse of these resources, using them in the manufacture of a new concrete aims, "explains Carlos Parra, principal investigator of the project.
"The main advantages of this new material are its low density, making it ideal for use in seismic zones, high impermeability, and reduced cement when using active additions" added the professor of the School of Architecture and Building Construction ( ETSAE) and Coordinator of the Master in Science and Technology Building Architecture (CYTEA).
UPCT researchers study and evaluate the possibility of using industrial waste, such as plastic and paper, and silica nanomolecules to manufacture ultralight concrete that meet standards for strength and durability and contribute to environmental sustainability, by saving resources natural and energy in their production and their thermal properties, which contribute to reducing energy consumption in buildings.
The manufacture of the new material and its resistance trials are underway in the concrete section of the new Laboratory of Architectural, the School of Architecture and Building UPCT ELDI premiered at the building.
"Having a test porch and a multifunction press, among other teams, has given us a decisive break to lead research projects quality," Parra said.
The lightweight concrete is five times lighter than reinforced concrete and fifteen times less than steel.
"Because of its light weight and extraordinary strength, is less inertial forces, significantly reducing the effort in case of an earthquake, making it an ideal material for seismic zones," notes Carlos Parra, who has started a line Research on seismic resistance of buildings and direct the thesis of the architect Eva Sanchez develop the study of ecohormigón.
"The product that we get will differ from the existing ones for their recycled in combination with nanoscale materials and innovative ways to contribute to environmental sustainability," summarizes the researcher.
Source: UPCT
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