
Marc Maguire and his research team poured 500 cinder blocks recently using a new, plant-based mixture featuring the core of hemp plants.
A University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering research team has developed a plant-based mixture for concrete masonry blocks that are environmentally friendly and sustainable while helping to meet the world’s construction demands.
“There’s nothing else out there in the world like this – a load-bearing capable, hemp-based composite,” said Marc Maguire, associate professor in the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction.
Maguire said the new mixture has the potential to radically change the construction industry because it’s lighter than traditional Portland cement, but also meets the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) C90 standards for load-bearing masonry units for strength, water absorption and weight.
Additionally, Maguire said, testing of the material revealed it removed 102 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalents per square, about four times more than standard concrete mixes, Maguire said.
By mixing the fibrous interior of the hemp plant stalk with a binding agent, the new composite is both sustainably sourced and could have immediate benefits on job sites.
“The weight of a cinder block can be a benefit and a curse,” Maguire said. “Engineers want that weight in a lot of construction applications, but it can have a physical impact on the masons who have to carry it around.
“We’re probably cutting 25 percent or so (of the weight), and that savings is probably enough to make the masons feel better but also keep the mass effect we need from the engineering and design standpoints.”
During spring break, Maguire’s team – whose research is supported by Global Fiber Processing and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development – used the facilities of Watkins Concrete Block in Omaha, fabricate 500 CMUs, which are commonly known as cinder blocks.
The team will use these hemp blocks to construct full-scale walls in the Durham School’s structures lab at Peter Kiewit Institute on Scott Campus to test the performance of the concrete in areas such as standing up to weather conditions, overall strength of the block, and insulation capabilities.
Another manufacturer on the East Coast inquired about making a different type of masonry block and Maguire said the team may “go up there and do a trial run.”
“Anytime you do something new, you have to work through the kinks,” Maguire said. “We’ll be complete with all of our work by the end of summer, but we’ll know well before that – probably in about a month – whether we’re going to be successful,” Maguire said.
The 2018 federal farm bill legalized the production of hemp and removed the plant and its seeds from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s schedule of controlled substances. Thus, it hasn’t established a consistent foothold in both agricultural production and consumer demand.
The success of this new cement mixture, Maguire said, could provide an alternative crop for Nebraska’s farmers that could tackle the demands of an evolving construction industry. As more hemp is available, Maguire said, it would also drive down the cost of the new mixture to be even more competitive with the composites currently used in construction.
As news of his research spreads, Maguire is fielding phone calls and culling emails from interested builders, manufacturers and investors from all corners of the United States. But he’s pumping the brakes on that interest … for now.
“Realistically, you’re not going to see blocks of our mixture available at Lowe’s or Menards soon. We’ve got a while before this will be ready to scale-up and take hold as part of the market, but we know there’s a demand for something better,” Maguire said.
“We’re looking to provide that something better.”
Original Article: Maguire-led research team develops hemp-based masonry blocks that could revolutionize construction
More from: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Hemp-based masonry blocks
- Company launches first Hemp-based insulation product
Kingspan‘s new bio-based insulation HemKor product range is largely made of hemp and can help drive down the embodied carbon of buildings. HemKor, the new bio-based insulation product range, offers ...
- 10 Best Hemp-based Products Startups - 2023
It is a natural... Our subscribers play a decisive role in finalization of our annual list of Top Hemp-based Products Startups - 2023 by nominating those which have served them with excellence and are ...
- The 6 Best Hemp Based Protein Powders in 2023
This plant-based protein blend contains five organic superfood ingredients, including hemp and pea protein, moringa, spirulina and alfalfa. With just 60 calories per serving, no sugar and only ...
- Plant Protein
They are notable for manufacturing shelled hemp seeds, hemp protein mix, hemp oil, and other hemp-based food products. In Arborg, Manitoba, Hemp Production Services (HPS Food & Ingredients) operates a ...
- How to dispose brick and masonry block
Put small quantities of bricks and masonry blocks into your black cart as garbage. Carts have a 60 kg weight limit. If you can easily roll your cart, it should be ok. Make sure the lid of the cart can ...
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Masonry blocks
- Pair Used Fake Masonry Business As Front to Sexually Assault Victim in West Chester
WEST CHESTER, PA – On November 22, West Chester Police responded to a sexual assault report at the 100 block of W. Union St. The 20-year-old female victim accused James McDonagh and John Michael ...
- Downtown block gets new owner
CLAREMONT, NH — Matt Vlangas, principal of Red Brick Investments, announced that Red Brick recently completed the acquisition of the Rand Block located at 32-40 Pleasant Street, along with the Fitch ...
- Line blocks for Brick Lines for Brick Layers Pack of 12 Blocks
INCLUDED - Pack of 12 Orange Line Blocks, STRING IS NOT INCLUDED USE - Can be used with a wide range of string, twine, cord LINE - These L shaped line blocks help give you a true straight line to ...
- How to Make Mud Bricks in Minecraft
Full mud brick blocks and their variants are generated as part of the trail ruins structures. The trail ruins generate only in some Minecraft biomes and can give you plenty of other loot too. However, ...
- Best masonry paints to get your home's exterior looking tip-top
Best masonry paints to get your home's exterior looking tip-top - Put the front of your house in the spotlight ...