A team of researchers at Texas A&M University has demonstrated a way to print a load-bearing structure out of soil.
The soil is combined with a binding additive to make it cohesive and allow it to be extruded by the printer into small clay cubes. It is also strengthened and made waterproof by process known as "zippering" – the formation of microscopic layers on the surface of the clay that means it can bear twice as much weight as the unmodified mixture.
If used at a larger scale, the process would have a smaller carbon footprint than concrete, and the use of local soil would avoid the need to transport building materials to site.
As the chemistry of soils vary, the team aim to create a "toolkit" of additives that can transform any type of soil into printable material.
Sarbajit Banerjee, the project’s principal investigator, said: "The environmental impact of the construction industry is an issue of growing concern. Some researchers have turned to additive manufacturing, or building structures layer by layer, which is often done with a 3D printer.
"That advance has begun to transform this sector in terms of reducing waste, but the materials used in the process need to be sustainable as well."
Aayushi Bajpayee, a graduate student working in Banerjee’s lab, added: "Historically, humans used to build with locally sourced materials such as adobe, but the move to concrete has raised many environmental issues.
"Our thought was to turn the clock back and find a way to adapt materials from our own backyards as a potential replacement for concrete."
The team will work to improve the soil’s load-bearing capabilities to allow it to work as a feasible replacement for concrete.
They also plan to explore using the technique to create settlements on the Moon or Mars.
Image courtesy of Aayushi Bajpayee
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