DART Lab's BioMatters Project Creates a Concrete Cast
Amy Duong — August 1, 2023 — Art & Design
References: dartlab.umich.edu & dezeen
The researchers at the University of Michigan creates a new biodegradable concrete cast using sawdust as a means to mitigate wood waste as a part of the BioMatters project. The wooden material is a result of the project by DART Lab, which stands for Digital Architecture Research and Technologies. The team mixed the sawdust with biopolymers and additives in order to develop the material that can then be 3D printed or moulded into other shapes.
Researcher Muhammad Dayyen Khan explains that "It's like a precious material for me because you're cutting down a tree. I think every particle of that tree should be reused if you're cutting it down." Khan continues, explaining that the team has plans in place to create larger structures, stating that "some structures can be printed in a big warehouse and then you just turn them back up. Just rotate them 90 degrees and you've got a bigger structure."
Image Credit: Digital Architecture Research and Technologies
Researcher Muhammad Dayyen Khan explains that "It's like a precious material for me because you're cutting down a tree. I think every particle of that tree should be reused if you're cutting it down." Khan continues, explaining that the team has plans in place to create larger structures, stating that "some structures can be printed in a big warehouse and then you just turn them back up. Just rotate them 90 degrees and you've got a bigger structure."
Image Credit: Digital Architecture Research and Technologies
Trend Themes
1. Biodegradable Concrete Casts - A disruptive innovation opportunity exists in the development of biodegradable concrete casts made from sawdust, which can be 3D printed or moulded into various shapes.
2. Wood Waste Mitigation - The use of sawdust in creating biodegradable concrete casts presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for mitigating wood waste by repurposing it as a valuable building material.
3. Sustainable Building Materials - The utilization of sawdust and biopolymers in the creation of concrete casts offers a disruptive innovation opportunity in the development of sustainable building materials.
Industry Implications
1. Construction Industry - The development of biodegradable concrete casts made from sawdust opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the construction industry by offering eco-friendly alternatives.
2. 3D Printing Industry - The ability to 3D print biodegradable concrete casts using sawdust presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the 3D printing industry for sustainable and customizable construction.
3. Waste Management Industry - The repurposing of sawdust as a valuable building material in biodegradable concrete casts creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the waste management industry for sustainable solutions.
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