Bio-based Energy-efficient materials and Structures for Tomorrow

The construction sector is one of the most energy intensive and raw-material demanding human activities and, hence, it is considered to contribute to a significant share of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Therefore, making the construction sector “greener” is one of the main challenges for policy makers, involved companies and the scientific community. Therefore, the Bio-based Energy-efficient materials and Structures for Tomorrow (BEST) project aims at investigating the potential of bio-based composites to realise innovative materials and elements characterised by both energy efficiency and structural capabilities.

The BEST project proposal will deal with the following bio-based materials: (i) Fibres and fabrics of vegetal origin, such as fibres obtained from leaves or stems of tropical plants, as well as fabrics made out of such fibres; (ii) Bio- aggregates obtained from waste and residuals of agricultural activities; (iii) Self-healing agents for concrete and other cement-based composites; (iv) Supplementary cementitious materials obtained by incinerating organic waste.

Therefore, the materials and composites considered in this project proposal are supposed to have potential to tackle the main challenges for the constructions of tomorrow:

• Facing climate change phenomena, by promoting “circular economy” practices;
• Reducing the amount of raw materials requested by the construction sector;
• Contributing to the development of local economies, by means of recycling locally-available waste in response to global challenge.

The BEST project foreseen a comprehensive methodological approach including both experimental activities and theoretical modelling, as it is intended at both advancing the fundamental knowledge in one of the emerging research topics in the field of construction and building materials and paving the way toward the marked uptake.