New construction materials – The foundation for “Recreating” the construction industry

1. Some new construction materials currently available on the market

a. Balsa carbon fiber

Balsa wood is known as an extremely lightweight yet very rigid material. However, balsa wood is very difficult to produce, resulting in a very high cost. A group of researchers at Harvard University has created a composite material (a material made from two or more different materials) with unprecedented lightness and rigidity that is difficult to match with balsa wood.

The final result is a product capable of completely replacing balsa wood, not only at a lower cost but also eliminating the problems that conventional wood structures have with uneven particles and difficulties in being used in precise structures.

b. Green concrete

A research team from Universiti Teknologi MARA in Malaysia has created a new type of concrete called “Green Concrete” by using conventional aggregates for concrete mixed with suitable waste and other recycled materials.

Green concrete still ensures the quality and strength of conventional concrete while making use of waste and recycled materials such as fly ash, recycled concrete aggregates, synthetic fiber aluminum… contributing to the reduction of environmental pollution.

c. Plant aggregate concrete blocks

Raw materials for concrete production are becoming increasingly scarce. Many researchers have made use of plant aggregates such as cogon grass to produce bricks with three times the thermal insulation capability of conventional bricks, good sound insulation, and high environmental friendliness.

Cogongrass plant aggregate concrete blocks meet acoustic requirements with a noise reduction of 54 dB. In addition to thermal and mechanical performance, local production and short-distance transportation also reduce the environmental impacts of constructed buildings.

d. Compressed wood chip blocks

Compressed wood chip blocks are produced from wood industry waste (such as sawdust and wood chips) to replace traditional sand and gravel aggregates.

Sawdust and wood chips are materials that can be 100% recycled. Compressed wood chip blocks make use of this source of materials with complete recyclability and outstanding technical performance (in terms of thermal, fire, and acoustic properties). These compressed wood blocks contain 28 kg of sawdust per square meter of wall: a true “trap” for CO2.

2. Outstanding advantages of new construction materials over traditional construction materials

3. New construction materials – Paving the way for change in the construction industry

Along with changes in social conditions and needs, construction materials are also gradually changing to meet people's needs. In the face of climate change and environmental pollution, the construction industry is facing many challenges. The emergence of new construction materials is an effective solution to address this urgent issue.