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MIT engineers have developed glass blocks that can be produced using 3D printing. The special thing about them is that they can be put together like LEGO bricks and could therefore make the construction industry much more sustainable.
Will buildings soon be able to be put together and taken apart again like LEGO bricks? At least that is the vision behind the “reconfigurable masonry” that is currently being worked on Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineers (WITH) work. The research aims to reuse materials at the end of a building’s lifespan and use them in a sustainable cycle for new structures.
The idea of circular construction could minimize the production of new materials, thereby reducing sequestered carbon in the construction industry. The MIT team is developing a new type of reusable masonry. This consists of recycled glass blocks and is the result of a specially developed 3D glass printing technology.
Interlocking glass blocks from the 3D printer
The multi-layered glass blocks are intended to be both robust and fit together like LEGO bricks. In mechanical tests, they withstood loads comparable to those of concrete blocks. According to the MIT researchers, the glass used is a highly recyclable material. It could even be melted into its original form and transformed into new forms.
This property makes the glass an ideal candidate for circular construction processes where sustainability is a priority. The team at MIT has already built a wall using these interlocking glass blocks and plans to create even larger and self-supporting structures in the future.
Industry could create more sustainable buildings in the medium term
This research opens up new possibilities in architecture and could pave the way for more sustainable construction methods. According to the researchers, the glass blocks are intended to pave a big step towards a low-carbon circular economy. The use of recycled glass opens up completely new paths for the industry.
In the future, the building blocks could also play a central role in the development of buildings that are not only durable but also environmentally friendly. The team would like to initially advance the research further in order to fully exploit the potential of the technology and establish it in the construction industry.
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