HOW DOES BIOCHAR WORK AS BUILDING MATERIAL?

Increasing research has shown that the addition of biochar to concrete mixes have the potential to offer a number of invaluable benefits including but not limited to :
  • Improved water tightness and mechanical strength
  • Allowing buildings to be turned into carbon sinks
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​Biochar-concrete exhibits improved water tightness and mechanical strength than control. Biochar-concrete also shows higher strength restoration and lower water intrusion, by 22–25%, compared to control mixes.[1] 

As well as having excellent insulating properties, improving air quality, being able to soak up moisture and protect from radiation, biochar also allows buildings to be turned into carbon sinks. Every tonne of biochar used in a building's envelope means that the equivalent of more or less one tonne of CO2 is prevented from re-entering the atmosphere.[2]

In order to open up further headway into the market for Biochar as a sustainable building material, Nature Hut welcomes researchers and builders to get in touch with us for any trials or collaboration.

Sources:
1. Gupta, S., Kua, H. and Pang, S. (2020). Effect of biochar on mechanical and permeability properties of concrete exposed to elevated temperature. Construction and Building Materials, 234, p.117338. 
​2. Schmidt, H. (2013). The use of biochar as building material – cities as carbon sinks. [online] Ithaka-journal.net. Available at: http://www.ithaka-journal.net/pflanzenkohle-zum-hauser-bauen-stadte-als-kohlenstoffsenken?lang=en