Development of low carbon innovative composite material for the construction industry

The need for alternative low carbon building materials is clear. We will investigate the potential of using novel low energy binders that could be used as alternatives to cement-based products or traditional clay-fired bricks; both having high embodied carbon and energy. We propose here to investigate the optimum combinations of ingredients to ascertain whether such novel materials can meet strict multifactorial technical requirements demanded by the global building industry.

This collaboration between two commercial SME partners (CelluComp/Kenoteq) and Heriot-Watt University involves two foundation industry sectors, cement and ceramics. The project will develop a new building product: with reduced energy input/costs, utilise waste/recycled materials, supports the circular economy/resource efficiency, as well as reduce CO2 emissions.

Cellucomp has developed low-cost energy efficient processes for producing materials from waste/side streams of the food processing industry, specifically sugar-beet pulp, a by-product of the sugar industry. These production methods have been scaled up, producing materials suitable for applications from food to building materials.

Kenoteq is the natural lead-partner for this project because they are a developer and manufacturer of unique building products that are designed to reduce carbon emissions and, at the same time, boost waste recycling from the construction industry. Having developed a brick that is made from recycled waste cementitious and ceramic materials which is produced without firing, thereby reducing CO2 emissions, and contributing to the circular economy.

Heriot-Watt is required for the development of the innovative building material. Their unique expertise/experimental capability in assessing material's properties and performance from the micro-to-macro-scale behaviour according to the relevant building standards.

The purpose of this proposal is to investigate in more depth the suitability of a novel binder material; both as a replacement for cement and as a potential material for manufacturing bricks/blocks with low temperature processing.

Kenoteq would provide the route to market for successful products. This project aims to produce sustainable replacements, for building materials such as bricks and cement (major contributors to global CO2 release) and support efficient resources exploitation of materials.