đź“Ś TOPINDIATOURS Eksklusif ai: Concrete from desert sand? Scientists test cement al
Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Tokyo have developed a prototype construction material that allows desert sand to be used in concrete for the first time.
The material, called botanical sand concrete, combines fine desert sand with plant-based additives and small wood particles using heat and pressure.
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world after water, with more than four billion tonnes of cement produced annually.
Its production accounts for roughly eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, the construction industry depends heavily on river sand and crushed rock, both of which are becoming scarce and environmentally damaging to extract.
Desert sand, despite being abundant, has remained largely unusable in construction. Its grains are too smooth and fine to bind properly in traditional concrete, resulting in weak structures.
This limitation has forced builders to rely on sand sourced from rivers and quarries, accelerating erosion and habitat loss.
The research team tested whether desert sand could be repurposed using an alternative manufacturing approach that does not rely on conventional cement binding.
Their experiments showed that desert sand can be structurally viable when combined with organic materials and processed under controlled conditions.
Making desert sand useful
“Researchers have discussed for many years whether desert sand can be used in concrete. The challenge is that desert sand is so fine-grained that it is not suitable as a fastener in concrete,” said Ren Wei, a postdoctoral fellow at NTNU.
“In other words, the concrete will not be hard enough to be used in construction projects.”
To overcome this, the researchers pressed desert sand together with plant-based additives and wood powder while applying heat.
By adjusting temperature, pressure, mixing ratios, and pressing time, the team produced dense, solid material without relying on traditional cement-heavy processes.
All experiments were conducted in laboratory settings at the University of Tokyo. The researchers compared desert sand with other fine aggregates and tested how different variables affected the strength and density of the resulting material.
“We tested how various factors affect the strength and density of the materials, including temperature, mixing ratio, pressure, pressing time and different types of sand,” Ren Wei said.
Environmental gains, practical limits
The team found the material strong enough for non-structural uses such as paving stones and walkways. However, they caution that botanical sand concrete is not yet suitable for large-scale construction or harsh outdoor environments.
Further testing is needed to assess durability in cold climates and long-term performance.
The researchers also stress that desert sand should be used locally to avoid emissions linked to transporting heavy materials over long distances.
If developed further, botanical sand concrete could reduce the need to mine river sand and crush mountains for construction materials, while offering a way to use sand that is currently considered a liability in desert regions.
The study was published in the Journal of Building Engineering.
đź”— Sumber: interestingengineering.com
đź“Ś TOPINDIATOURS Eksklusif ai: Concrete from desert sand? Scientists test cement al
Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Tokyo have developed a prototype construction material that allows desert sand to be used in concrete for the first time.
The material, called botanical sand concrete, combines fine desert sand with plant-based additives and small wood particles using heat and pressure.
Concrete is the most widely used construction material in the world after water, with more than four billion tonnes of cement produced annually.
Its production accounts for roughly eight percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, the construction industry depends heavily on river sand and crushed rock, both of which are becoming scarce and environmentally damaging to extract.
Desert sand, despite being abundant, has remained largely unusable in construction. Its grains are too smooth and fine to bind properly in traditional concrete, resulting in weak structures.
This limitation has forced builders to rely on sand sourced from rivers and quarries, accelerating erosion and habitat loss.
The research team tested whether desert sand could be repurposed using an alternative manufacturing approach that does not rely on conventional cement binding.
Their experiments showed that desert sand can be structurally viable when combined with organic materials and processed under controlled conditions.
Making desert sand useful
“Researchers have discussed for many years whether desert sand can be used in concrete. The challenge is that desert sand is so fine-grained that it is not suitable as a fastener in concrete,” said Ren Wei, a postdoctoral fellow at NTNU.
“In other words, the concrete will not be hard enough to be used in construction projects.”
To overcome this, the researchers pressed desert sand together with plant-based additives and wood powder while applying heat.
By adjusting temperature, pressure, mixing ratios, and pressing time, the team produced dense, solid material without relying on traditional cement-heavy processes.
All experiments were conducted in laboratory settings at the University of Tokyo. The researchers compared desert sand with other fine aggregates and tested how different variables affected the strength and density of the resulting material.
“We tested how various factors affect the strength and density of the materials, including temperature, mixing ratio, pressure, pressing time and different types of sand,” Ren Wei said.
Environmental gains, practical limits
The team found the material strong enough for non-structural uses such as paving stones and walkways. However, they caution that botanical sand concrete is not yet suitable for large-scale construction or harsh outdoor environments.
Further testing is needed to assess durability in cold climates and long-term performance.
The researchers also stress that desert sand should be used locally to avoid emissions linked to transporting heavy materials over long distances.
If developed further, botanical sand concrete could reduce the need to mine river sand and crush mountains for construction materials, while offering a way to use sand that is currently considered a liability in desert regions.
The study was published in the Journal of Building Engineering.
đź”— Sumber: interestingengineering.com
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