Featured New Materials! From lumber usable in high-rise construction to edible materials
In this article, we will discuss new building materials that are gaining high expectations in the architecture and construction industries. We will introduce a wide range of materials, from those already in practical use with growing potential to those still in the experimental stage, so please be sure to read until the end.
CLT: Timber materials usable for medium- to large-scale buildings
CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) refers to panels made by gluing layers of lumber together with their grain intersecting at right angles. It is widely used, particularly in Europe and North America, as wall and floor materials for apartment buildings and commercial facilities.
The use of timber is gaining attention as it relates to Goal 12 of the SDGs, "Responsible Consumption and Production," and the government is also establishing support systems for buildings utilizing CLT.
Characteristics of CLT
Overseas, it is already used in a variety of structures, including mixed-use buildings, hotels, and co-housing. Notably, Mjøstårnet in Norway (18 stories, 85 meters) is world-famous as a tall timber building.
In Japan, they are used not only for private residences but also for various other buildings such as clinics, educational facilities like nursery schools, kindergartens, and elementary school buildings, as well as stores and offices. Additionally, high-rise wooden buildings combining reinforced concrete and timber construction are now emerging.
Source: Promoting the Use of Timber and Utilizing CLT in Child Welfare Facilities and Other Buildings
"CFRP" enables efficient seismic retrofitting for existing buildings
CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) is a composite material made by combining carbon fibers with resin. Lighter yet stronger than steel, it is used in a wide range of fields, including architecture and construction, aerospace, automotive, electronics, and leisure and sporting goods.
Features of CFRP
- Lightweight
Its specific gravity is said to be about 1/4 to 1/5 that of iron. - It is said to have 5 to 10 times the strength of
steel. - Excellent corrosion resistance
with virtually no rusting or corrosion.
Reviving Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete from an SDG Perspective
Currently, five companies in the Tohoku region are collaborating with the College of Science and Technology at Nihon University to work toward the practical application of "bamboo-reinforced concrete," which uses bamboo instead of steel reinforcement. This construction method was temporarily used in Japan during wartime when steel was in short supply.
Bamboo grows quickly and naturally returns to the earth, making it an eco-friendly material. However, in recent years, abandoned bamboo groves encroaching on rural hillsides have become a growing environmental issue known as "bamboo damage." If bamboo-reinforced concrete becomes practical, it will allow for the extensive utilization of bamboo and is expected to contribute significantly to the SDGs.
"Edible new material" made from food waste
Made from large amounts of food waste generated daily, this "edible new material" was developed by the venture company fabula.
The production process involves drying and pulverizing discarded food materials used as raw ingredients, such as mandarin orange peels and vegetable scraps, and then heat-pressing them. Depending on the raw materials, the resulting new material possesses a bending strength greater than that of concrete, and it is anticipated that it may be used as a building material in the future.
From technologies already in use to those currently being researched for practical application, we have introduced a wide range of innovations. Did you find any new materials that caught your interest?
Looking at it this way, it seems that SDGs play a major role even in the development of new materials. As Act-One Yamaichi operates a wholesale rental business directly linked to resource and energy conservation, we remain committed to contributing to the achievement of the SDGs!
*The photos shown are for illustrative purposes only.
*All content and cases are based on Japan.