Here is how infrastructure becomes sustainable
Chi Zhou's 3D-printed wheat straw is green alternative to fiberglass insulation
The natural, biodegradable fiber offers significant environmental advantages over industry standard fiberglass.
Zhou, professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering, and a small research team began work on 3D printing wheat straw with financial support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
"Unlike fossil fuels, which take millions of years to form, biomass materials such as wheat straw can be harvested and replanted regularly. This makes for an eco-friendlier insulation material," Zhou says.
The organic material is less energy-intensive to manufacture than current industry standards, holds up well under pressure, and is more flame retardant than other organic materials. This method utilizes a waste product—wheat straw—that is frequently burned after wheat grain is harvested.
This project is one of many initiatives happening at UB that earned the university high rankings in several of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, including a spot in the top 15 in shaping resilient infrastructure and sustainable industrial practices, enhancing economic development and developing new technologies.
