by Komoneed | Nov 17, 2024
Australian engineers have come up with an unexpected use for discarded carpets and other textiles: as a means to make concrete stronger and resistant to cracks.
This innovation, led by scientists at RMIT University, addresses a major challenge in the construction sector, where the annual cost of repair for cracks in reinforced concrete structures in Australia is about $8 billion. In the US, the cost is estimated at US$76 billion per year.
The research team is working with partners including Textile Recyclers Australia, Godfrey Hirst Australia and councils in Victoria to conduct field studies of on-ground slabs made of reclaimed textiles.
Lead researcher Dr Chamila Gunasekara, from RMIT, said the team had developed a technique using waste carpet fibres to reduce early-age shrinkage cracking in concrete by up to 30%, while also improving the concrete’s durability.
Using the state-of-the-art textile research facilities at RMIT, the team of civil engineers and textile researchers has also been able to test other discarded textiles, including clothing fabrics, in strengthening concrete.
“Cracking in early-age concrete slabs is a longstanding challenge in construction projects that can cause premature corrosion, not only making a building look bad but also risking its structural integrity and safety,” said Gunasekara, an ARC DECRA fellow from the School of Engineering.
“Scrap carpet fibres can be used to increase concrete’s strength by 40% in tension and prevent early cracking, by reducing shrinkage substantially.”
Laboratory concrete samples have been created using the various textile materials and shown to meet Australian Standards for engineering performance and environmental requirements.
Concrete samples made with carpet fibres. Image credit: RMIT University.
Addressing a big waste challenge
Gunasekara said the disposal of carpets and other textiles poses an enormous environmental challenge.
“Australia is the second largest consumer of textiles per person in the world, after the US. The average Australian purchases 27 kg of new clothing and textiles every year, and discards 23 kg into landfill,” he said.
“Burning carpet waste releases various toxic gases, creating environmental concerns.”
Dr Shadi Houshyar, a textile and material scientist at RMIT, said that discarded firefighting clothes are a particularly challenging waste issue. This is because the same qualities that make these materials ideal for firefighting also make them difficult to recycle.
“Up to 70% of textile waste would be suitable for conversion into usable fibres, presenting an opportunity in the materials supply chain,” said Houshyar, from the School of Engineering.
Bringing fabric-reinforced concrete into the real world
To capture the unexpected conditions encountered in real-world construction projects, the team will conduct field trials with support from industry and local government partners.
These trials, as well as computational modelling, will be funded by the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transformation of Reclaimed Waste Resources to Engineered Materials and Solutions for a Circular Economy (TREMS) and an early-career research grant. TREMS is led by Professor Sujeeva Setunge from RMIT.
The team is collaborating with Professor Andrzej Cwirzen from Luleå University of Technology in Sweden on the computational modelling.
Their paper, ‘Enhancement of concrete performance and sustainability through incorporation of diverse waste carpet fibres’, has been published in Construction and Building Materials.
Top image caption: PhD scholar Nayanatara Ruppegoda Gamage and Dr Chamila Gunasekara with concrete samples made using textiles. Image credit: RMIT University.
by Komoneed | Nov 17, 2024
Anyone who has ever been to a public recycling center has likely been witness to bins overflowing with many incorrectly sorted items strewn in. In highly populated areas this can become a challenge for public waste management workers to keep up with. Even in less populated areas, staffing shortages can create a backlog. The public […]
The post How Smart Recycling Bins Are Revolutionizing Public Waste Management appeared first on RecycleNation.
by Komoneed | Nov 15, 2024
This is a sponsored article about a brand that was independently assessed by our rigorous ratings system. We’re proud to only collaborate with “Good” and “Great” rated brands. Learn more. Mashu (“Good”) is a leader in making more sustainable and durable vegan leather handbags that don’t use polyurethane—never compromising on those principles since Ioanna […]
The post Looking For Stylish—and Durable—Vegan Bags? Mashu Has the Answer appeared first on Good On You.
by Komoneed | Nov 14, 2024
Following a record number of applications, Innovation Bay and ARENA have selected six startups to present at the 2024 ARENA Renewables Startup Showcase, which is returning for a fifth year on Thursday, 21 November in Sydney.
Applications were open to all early-stage and scaleup companies innovating in the renewables, climate tech and cleantech sectors. An experienced panel of judges that included impact VC partners, cleantech investors, and energy and climate change specialists managed to narrow down more than 85 applications to the final selection of six.
“Once again, we’re inspired by the exceptional talent and vibrant innovation emerging across Australia’s renewables, climate tech and cleantech sectors,” said Phaedon Stough, CEO and co-founder of Innovation Bay, an Australian membership community for technology founders and investors.
“This year’s record-breaking number of applicants and surge in pitching startups underscore the incredible momentum within this space. We’re thrilled to bring together these leading startups and investors to help drive growth and impact across the sector.”
The judges evaluated factors such as market size and business opportunity, team suitability and strength, competitive advantage, investment attractiveness at the current stage, and potential for substantial industry impact — as well as alignment with the showcase’s theme, ‘Solar and Beyond’.
The six successful startups are listed below.
Endua
Endua is a Brisbane-based deep tech startup that develops next-gen hydrogen technologies for onsite hydrogen production in energy storage, power and mobility. Focused on localised hydrogen generation, Endua reduces costs and environmental impact by eliminating long-distance transport and storage. The startup is backed by CSIRO, Ampol Australia and Main Sequence, and benefits from strong technical expertise, market access and early-stage funding. CEO and founder Paul Sernia brings over 20 years’ experience in energy and manufacturing, previously co-founding Tritium, a global EV charging company. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and degrees in Computer Systems Engineering and Computer Science.
Hadean Energy
Hadean Energy, a Melbourne-based CSIRO spin-out, is advancing green hydrogen and e-fuels with its tubular Solid Oxide Electrolyser (tSOE), which is claimed to operate up to 30% more efficiently than traditional electrolysers. Hadean’s solution supports decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors like steelmaking and ammonia production, and enables low-cost syngas for shipping and aviation. Backed by CSIRO and RFC Ambrian, Hadean is rapidly commercialising, securing grants and preparing for a megawatt-scale demonstration in Australia.
Halocell
Halocell Energy is an Australian solar innovator focused on manufacturing next-generation perovskite solar cells. With a pilot facility in NSW’s Riverina district, the startup aims to target the indoor IoT market before expanding to space and drone applications. Collaborating with academic partners (QUT, UNSW, UQ) and industry leaders (Tindo Solar, Gilmour Space), Halocell was founded in 2020 by CEO Paul Moonie, who has over 20 years’ experience in solar technology.
Kwetta
Founded in 2021 in Napier, New Zealand, Kwetta is focused on transforming ultrafast EV charging by eliminating grid constraints. Its Prime Grid Gateway project addresses capacity, voltage and power quality issues without costly upgrades or batteries, enabling customers to deploy rapidly and access more power at grid-constrained sites. At the 2024 Renewables Startup Showcase, Aidan Clarke, Kwetta’s Brisbane-based Product Manager, will share Kwetta’s vision for scalable EV infrastructure, leveraging his expertise from Tritium and intelliHR.
Reswitch
Reswitch was founded to bridge a notable gap in the renewable energy sector: ensuring that the economic benefits of clean energy projects reach the communities that host them. The Reswitch platform enables energy infrastructure developers, including renewable energy zone coordinators, to deliver tangible benefits such as free or reduced power bills to nearby residents at any project phase — without requiring recipients to switch energy providers. By digitising and streamlining best practices in benefit-sharing, Reswitch fosters early community ties, enhances local support, and helps projects gain and maintain social licence more effectively.
Solstice AI
Solstice AI delivers AI solutions for energy utilities, traders and solar asset owners to boost profits and manage risks amid rising solar variability. The startup’s Solstice SkyScan product uses AI with overhead imagery to locate all solar generation in a region. Solstice SkyFlow applies AI to satellite images, predicting cloud movement — the main factor in solar output — to forecast generation at specific sites or across regions. Since 2022, Solstice AI has completed projects for utilities and energy providers in Australia, Germany and Spain.
In addition to the featured startups, the 2024 ARENA Renewables Startup Showcase will include a gala dinner and plenty of networking opportunities. Guests will also have the opportunity to learn from experts on the future of emerging technologies in the renewable energy sector.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller will take to the stage alongside investors Alexandra Clunies-Ross, Partner at Artesian (Alternative Investments), Katerina Kimmorley, Head of Commercial & Investments at Boundless Earth and Commissioner at the NSW Net Zero Emissions Commission, and Angela Karl, Managing Director and Head of Energy Transition at HMC Capital, for a thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Capital Brief Startups and VC correspondent Bronwen Clune.
Miller said the work that startups are doing in the renewable energy and climate change sector will be of critical importance if Australia is going to achieve its goal of net zero emissions.
“The ARENA Renewables Startup Showcase has become the premier event to ensure these visionary founders are connected with the right investors so that innovation in this sector continues to thrive,” he said.
“It’s exciting to again partner with Innovation Bay to present the Showcase and introduce the next generation of renewable technology to the world.”
For information on how to register for the event, click here.
Image credit: iStock.com/ronniechua
