The construction industry generates the 13% of global GDPaccording to a report by Exactitude Consultancy, emerging as an economic pillar for developed and developing countries. However, this sector is also among the main culprits of serious environmental damage: Archdesk reports that it contributes to 23% of air pollution global and produces the 50% of waste that end up in landfill. In response to these challenges, a team of MIT engineers developed a unique innovation: recyclable glass brickswhich offer robustness and a significant ecological advantage.
3D Printed Glass Blocks: Revolutionary Technology and Design
These innovative bricks were made using a 3D printer called Glass 3D Printer 3, developed by Evenline, a company affiliated with MIT. The team, led by Michael Stern and Kaitlyn Becker, used soda-lime glassan economical and highly recyclable material. Each brick is designed with a figure-eight shape and equipped with interconnected elementswhich allow quick and safe assembly, similar to that of Lego bricks. This design also allows for the construction of curved structuresotherwise difficult to obtain with conventional materials.
The glass chosen can be recycled almost endlesslyas long as it is not contaminated. According to Becker, bricks can be dismantled from a building at the end of its life and reused in new constructions, reducing the need to produce new materials and reducing emissions and waste. These bricks represent an ideal solution to promote more sustainable construction and reduceenvironmental impact of the sector.
To demonstrate the strength of the glass blocks, the MIT team subjected them to extreme pressure with a industrial hydraulic press. The results confirmed that these blocks, especially those with aluminum connectors, offer a resistance comparable to that of concrete. To exhibit the practical potential of their invention, the researchers built a curved wall in front of one of the MIT buildings, attracting great interest in academia and industry.
Michael Stern, founder of Evenline, said the team is already working on new applications. Among the ideas in the pipeline are bleachers and a temporary pavilion, useful for testing the structural possibilities of these glass blocks and demonstrating their versatility.
