A group of researchers at Britain\u2019s Lancaster University has been using a household food blender to mix particles from the root vegetable with concrete to see if they can produce a stronger and more environmentally sound product.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found out you could increase the strength of concrete by 80 percent by using a small amount of this new material,\u201d lead researcher Mohamed Saafi told Reuters.<\/p>\n
The addition of carrots prevent any cracks in the concrete, the team said. It also means less cement is required, therefore lowering the global carbon dioxide (CO2) output.<\/p>\n
Cement is responsible for seven percent of total global CO2 emissions, according to International Energy Agency estimates.<\/p>\n
The carrot particles are provided by CelluComp, a Scottish-based company who work on the development of sustainable materials.<\/p>\n
CelluComp CEO Christian Kemp-Griffin explained that a carrot is made up nearly entirely of water but still stays rigid and crunchy because of cellulose, a fibrous substance found in all plants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose fibres have strength characteristics in them. It\u2019s the building blocks of the strength of a vegetable,\u201d he told Reuters.<\/p>\n
Cellulose is also found in wood, but is easier to extract from vegetables. With large amounts of vegetable waste available as a byproduct of agriculture, it is a cheap and environmentally friendly source of the fibres.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can just pop a few of these fibres into other materials and it becomes an additive that gives performance characteristics,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Only a tiny amount of cellulose is needed to alter the properties of cement because it changes the way water behaves during the process when cement hardens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not the physical fibre that\u2019s causing the strength. It\u2019s the way it holds water. Our material loves to hold onto water. There is a chemical reaction happening between the fibres and the cement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saafi\u2019s team will continue to test their mixtures, with sugar beets also being used as CelluComp can get large amounts of inexpensive beet pulp left over after sugar production.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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