Afogreen Build’s Post

Carpet fibers can stop concrete cracking. Engineers in Australia have found a way to make stronger and crack-resistant concrete with scrap carpet fibers, rolling out the red carpet for sustainability in the construction sector. The research team is engaging with partners including Textile Recyclers Australia, Godfrey Hirst Australia and councils in Victoria to conduct field studies of on-ground slabs made of reclaimed textiles. Lead researcher Dr. Chamila Gunasekara from RMIT University said the team had developed a technique using waste carpet fibers to reduce early-age shrinkage cracking in concrete by up to 30%, while also improving the concrete's durability. This research addresses a #major #challenge in the #construction #sector, as the annual #cost of #repair for cracks in reinforced #concrete #structures in Australia is about #A$8 #billion. In the US, the cost is estimated at #US$76 #billion per year. Publishing their latest results in the Construction and Building Materials journal, the team has shown that waste carpet material can be used to improve concrete. With state-of-the-art textile research facilities at RMIT, the team of civil engineers and textile researchers has also been able to use other discarded textiles, including clothing fabrics, to make concrete stronger. "Cracking in early-age concrete slabs is a long-standing challenge in construction projects that can cause premature corrosion, not only making a building look bad but also risking its structural integrity and safety," said Gunasekara, an ARC DECRA fellow from the School of Engineering. "Scrap #carpet #fibers can be used to #increase #concrete's #strength by 40% in tension and prevent early cracking, by reducing shrinkage substantially." Laboratory concrete samples have been created using various textile materials and shown to meet Australian Standards for engineering performance and environmental requirements. Addressing a big waste challenge The disposal of carpets and other textiles, including discarded fabrics, poses an enormous environmental challenge, Gunasekara said. "Australia is the second largest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the US. The average Australian purchases 27kg of new clothing and textiles every year, and discards 23kg into landfill," he said. "Burning  carpet waste releases various toxic gases, creating environmental concerns." Dr. Shadi Houshyar, a textile and material scientist at RMIT, said firefighting clothes waste also posed a challenge, as the same qualities that made these materials ideal for firefighting also made them difficult to recycle. "Up to 70% of textile waste would be suitable for conversion into usable fibers, presenting an opportunity in the materials supply chain," said Houshyar, from the School of Engineering... ... by RMIT University

Stronger concrete, cleaner landfills—how scrap carpet fibers are reinventing construction Concrete is the foundation of modern civilization, but its notorious tendency to crack isn’t just a construction headache—it’s a multi-billion-dollar problem. In Australia alone, repairing cracks in reinforced concrete structures costs a staggering $8 billion annually. But there is a surprising hero in this high-stakes drama: scrap carpet fibers. A crack-resistant concrete revolution Led by Dr. Chamila Gunasekara, the research team developed a method to incorporate waste carpet fibers into concrete. The results are remarkable: shrinkage cracking in early-age concrete is reduced by up to 30 percent, while the material’s strength increases by 40 percent in tension. These enhancements don’t just boost durability—they also improve safety and structural integrity. From landfill to load-bearing: tackling textile waste To put things into perspective, it’s estimated that everyone on Earth collectively produces 92 million tons of textile waste annually. Australia is the second-largest consumer of textiles per capita globally, after the United States. The average Australian purchases 27 kilograms of new clothing and textiles annually and discards 23 kilograms straight into landfills. Burning these materials, including carpets, releases toxic gases and compounds, compounding environmental concerns. “Australia faces an enormous environmental challenge with textile waste,” said Gunasekara. “Burning carpet waste releases various toxic gases, creating environmental concerns.” The potential for recycling is enormous. According to Dr. Shadi Houshyar, a textile and material scientist at RMIT, “Up to 70 percent of textile waste would be suitable for conversion into usable fibers, presenting an opportunity in the materials supply chain.” source: https://lnkd.in/dJri4B3D

Thanks to Christian Smedberg for sharing this innovation tidbit on the possibilities for using even more wood waste (in the form of wood flour plus bioplastics derived from corn residue) for structural flooring material that could replace steel and concrete, which have much higher carbon footprints. The question, as always, is scalability. #wastewoodmadegood #circularity #materialintelligence

Transforming Trash into Strength: How Scrap Carpet Fibers Reinforce Concrete Engineers at RMIT University in Australia have invented an innovative way to boost concrete strength and crack resistance using scrap carpet fibers. With repair costs for concrete cracks of $76B in the US, their work shows that concrete made with waste textiles can reduce early-age shrinkage cracking by up to 30% and increase tensile strength by 40%. Their approach tackles two major challenges: reducing construction repair costs and addressing textile waste. It's another encouraging example of turning a landfill problem into a building solution. https://lnkd.in/ggfFUreA Did you know that Green Advantage offers three credentials to construction-related personnel? Two are green builder certifications. The other focuses on risk management in delivering healthcare construction. All three help familiarize personnel with the best practices needed to deliver healthy, high performance buildings. Curious? Visit https://lnkd.in/etNvYaZ. #SustainableConstruction #InnovationInEngineering #ConcreteRevolution #TextileRecycling #CircularEconomy #EcoInnovation #GreenBuildingMaterials #WasteToWealth #RMITResearch #SustainabilityInAction

✨ Is zero-carbon concrete possible? ✨    The construction industry is responsible for about one-third of the world's waste and 40% of global carbon emissions.   Half of the world's buildings are made from concrete and, with a growing population, the demand for the material is increasing.   Luckily, several companies are working to make our concrete jungles greener. Meet 7 concrete alternatives to prove the case:   ❇Mycocycle, Inc.- Inside the Illinois-based brand's MYCOntainer, mycelium transforms construction waste (asphalt shingles, textiles and rubber) into new fire- and water-resistant materials for flooring, ceiling, and furniture. ❇Watershed Materials - The California company makes stunning and sustainable masonry from locally sourced waste materials.   ❇:MOGU - The Italian brand uses mycelium and leftover materials from the agricultural and food industries to create 100% plastic-free, biodegradable materials for stylish wall panels and circular flooring.    ❇Ecocem Global - The company's ACT (next-gen low carbon cement technology), which replaces the clinker content of cement with fillers like limestone, is set to deliver a scalable 70% reduction in the cement industry's carbon footprint as early as 2035.    ❇Hempcrete - Brands like Hempitecture in the US and IsoHemp in Belgium are creating sturdy yet lightweight alternatives to concrete with hemp hurds. The pest- and heat-resistant material can be used in walls, roofs, insulation and floors.     ❇Fortera – Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the company's ReCarb process uses CO2 waste to generate cement with 70% less CO2. When combined with green energy sources, the cement has the potential to become a zero CO2 solution.    ❇ECOncrete - By offering bio-enhancing concrete compositions and texture agents the US biotech simultaneously decreases the carbon footprint of marine structures and supports the growth of marine life.    What's your favourite concrete alternative? I'm all in on the shrooms – check out the comment section below for my article on mycelium and construction to find out more! #construction #biotech #innovations

The carpet industry seems to be holding its own very well with most of the major brands offering free recycling dumpsters for used carpeting that they recycle ♻️ in closed loop recycling. Using it in concrete is news to me an am amazing use of the resource. Further more there are currently carpets on the market made from recycled plastic bottles, I’ve used these products extensively and they perform very well and to think that this may mean that we can take a recycled product ans re-recycle it.

If sustainability in your new or existing facilities is an important consideration, remember that POLISHED CONCRETE is the best solution to protect our environment and reduce landfill waste long term. The following article dives into some of the benefits of moving away from manufactured flooring and over to polished concrete. https://lnkd.in/e-jQ65PG

Eco Friendly Brick Market 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 ➢𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐨(𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭)👉:-https://lnkd.in/eYAFNthc In the #professional world, eco-friendly bricks are identified by their composition, #method of manufacture, and #advantages for the environment. #Because they are usually made of recycled materials, waste is kept out of landfills and less demand is placed on #virgin resources like fly ash, slag, or recovered aggregates. To further reduce their #environmental impact, some #eco-friendly bricks are produced with the help of #energy-efficient production methods and renewable energy sources. ➢ 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰: Brampton Brick, Modular Clay Products, Summit Brick Company, Harden Bricks Pvt Ltd, Brickworks, By Type - Wool Bricks, Mud Bricks By Application - Furniture, Wall, Building When it comes to #eco-friendly bricks, quality refers to both the# goals of sustainable #development as well as #the bricks' performance and longevity. In order to keep their #environmental credentials, these bricks must meet industry #criteria for strength, insulation, and weather resistance. To make sure they meet or beyond #traditional brick standards, quality assurance frequently entails testing for characteristics like #compressive strength, water absorption, and #thermal conductivity.

Engineers at RMIT University in Melbourne have discovered an innovative use for waste carpets, turning them into a key ingredient for stronger, crack-resistant concrete. https://lnkd.in/gM5-Vgxf

💬 The reuse of construction waste can not only reduce environmental pollution, but also bring economic benefits. Here are some specific examples to illustrate the reuse of construction waste: 1. Recycled aggregate: The crushed construction waste can be used as recycled aggregate for the manufacturing of building materials such as concrete and mortar. This type of recycled material can replace natural raw materials and reduce dependence on natural resources. For example, after crushing discarded concrete blocks, they can be used as recycled concrete aggregates. 2. Road foundation materials: Broken bricks, stones, etc. in construction waste can be used as filling materials for road foundation materials, and are used for laying infrastructure such as roads and railways. 3. Green landfill: Organic waste from construction waste, such as wood and paper, can be used for green landfill as a substrate for plant growth. 4. Art creation: Waste items from construction waste, such as bricks, metals, etc., can be used by artists to create sculptures, installation art, and other works, endowing waste with new aesthetic value. 5. Furniture manufacturing: Waste wood, plastic, etc. can be reprocessed and used to manufacture daily necessities such as furniture and decorations. 6. Metal recycling: Waste metals from construction waste, such as steel bars and copper pipes, can be recycled and reused through processes such as crushing and screening. 7. Roof insulation materials: Broken glass, plastic, etc. in construction waste can be used as roof insulation materials to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. These examples indicate that construction waste, after reasonable treatment and reuse, can be transformed into valuable resources, applied in various fields, and achieve resource recycling. #recycle #environmentalprotection #crusher