Macroporous Bio-Aggregate Building Material for Humidity Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction industry faces challenges in adopting bio-based building materials due to their mechanical variability, high production and disposal costs, and inability to regulate humidity, which affects thermal comfort and increases energy consumption. There is a need for a bio-based material with comparable mechanical properties to conventional materials, suitable for large-scale manufacturing, and capable of regulating humidity and reducing respiratory health risks associated with mold and condensation.
Innovation Solution
A bio-aggregate based building product composed of a mixture of lignocellulosic bio-aggregate and calcium carbonate derived binder, with a macroporous element having an air and/or vapor and/or water open matrix, providing a microcapillary structure that allows for high porosity, breathability, and humidity regulation, while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If bio-based building materials are used to replace conventional materials, then environmental sustainability is improved, but mechanical properties and performance consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite building material combining bio-aggregate (organic component) with calcium carbonate binder (mineral component). This composite structure leverages the strengths of both materials: the bio-aggregate provides sustainability and breathability, while the calcium carbonate binder ensures mechanical strength and consistency. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction by making the material both environmentally friendly and mechanically reliable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the particle size distribution of the bio-aggregate as a key parameter. By controlling that between 40-80% of bio-aggregate particles fall within a specific size range (0.5-2.0mm), the material achieves both good mechanical properties and maintained breathability. This parameter optimization allows the material to perform consistently while remaining environmentally sustainable.
2Strength
If conventional building materials are used, then mechanical strength is maintained, but humidity regulation capability and thermal comfort are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating breathable voids and microcapillary structures within the matrix of the calcium carbonate binder. These localized porous regions provide humidity regulation and breathability functions specifically where needed, while the overall matrix maintains mechanical strength. This allows different parts of the material to serve different functions: the binder provides strength while the bio-aggregate voids provide humidity control.
3Ease of manufacture
If bio-based materials are manufactured on-site or cast in-situ, then flexibility is improved, but production cost and performance variability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-mixing the calcium carbonate binder and bio-aggregate in controlled factory conditions to create consistent batches. This pre-mixing ensures uniform particle distribution and consistent performance characteristics before the material is transported and applied on-site. The factory-controlled mixing process reduces variability while still allowing flexibility in final application and casting.
4Productivity
If gypsum plasterboard is used, then production efficiency is maintained, but disposal cost and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the typically harmful aspect of organic materials (susceptibility to decay) into a beneficial feature. By using naturally decayable bio-aggregate bound with calcium carbonate, the material can safely decompose at the end of its lifecycle, returning to the environment without generating harmful emissions. This resolves the contradiction by making the material both efficiently producible and environmentally benign throughout its entire lifecycle including disposal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bio-aggregate building product achieves high porosity, low density, and improved thermal and hygrothermal properties, reducing energy consumption and health risks by regulating humidity and preventing mold, while being environmentally friendly and suitable for large-scale production.
Implementation Method 1
a microcapillary structure formed by the lignocellulosic bio-aggregate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a bio-aggregate based building product comprising a macroporous element formed from a mixture of: a calcium carbonate derived binder and a lignocellulosic bio-aggregate. The macroporous element has an air and/or vapour and/or water open matrix with a microcapillary structure formed by the lignocellulosic bio-aggregate. The porosity of the macroporous element is at least 50% of the bulk volume of the building product. Between 40% and 80% by weight of bio-aggregate granulates forming the lignocellulosic bio-aggregate have a maximum particle size falling within the lower 50% of the particle size range. No more than 5% by weight of bio-aggregate granulates forming the lignocellulosic bio-aggregate have a maximum particle size falling within the upper 20% of the particle size range.