Sand and Urine Concrete Alternative

Jan-21-14 A portable unit capable of making a building material from sand and urine could provide a less expensive, green-friendly alternative to concrete.

Developed by Peter Trimble for his thesis in product design, the device was inspired by his desire to find an alternative to high-heat concrete manufacturing. The unit includes bits from some common household appliances, including a mixer from a blender and a coffee machine pump, and was fed with sand, bacteria, calcium chloride and urea to create the final product—a small stool in this case.

To build his stool, which was able to hold his weight, Trimble poured sand into the stool mold and then added the bacteria. After letting the mixture sit overnight to ensure it was well-saturated, he added the urea and calcium chloride solution, which forms a bond when it comes in contact with the bacteria and creates a material much like cement (although only two-thirds as strong).

More Info about this Invention:

[WIRED.COM]
[DISCOVERY]

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