SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ELECTIVE

INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL

TRANSPARENT WOOD HYDROPHOBIC CEMENT

Guided By- Presented by-

Prof- Deepali Hejjib Rutuj Parakh

 TRANSPARENT WOOD
INTRODUCTION-
• Wood is by far the most used, bio-based material in buildings. • The researchers then soaked the
• The optically transparent wood is a type of wood veneer in which wood with an epoxy, which both
the lignin, a component of the cell walls, is removed chemically. strengthened the wood and turned
• The tiny fibers that form the walls of channels are what makes the wood clear. Even though its
wood so robust. These channels, being the backbone structure of color was gone, the underlying
wood, are maintained, while the wood itself is made transparent structures in the wood remained the
and stronger. same. When filled with the epoxy,
these channels turned into conduits
for light, focusing it and allowing it
to pass through.
• The end product looks more like
a piece of plastic than something
that once stood in a forest.

• PRODUCTION PROCESS-
• First, the researchers put blocks of wood in a boiling bath filled
with water, sodium hydroxide and other chemicals for about
two hours. This caused a polymer known as lignin to leach out of
the cell walls in the wood. Lignin is also what gives wood its color
— with the compound gone the wood turned white.
• After this, oxidation with hydrogen peroxide completes the
leaching of the lignin.
 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• Transparent- It transmits 85% light. It isn't
crystal clear, but hazy. In addition to affording a
measure of privacy to people inside buildings
made of transparent wood, the haziness means
the material traps some light.
• Wood has lower thermal conductivity which
would help to keep a building at more
consistent temperature and make it easier to
reach higher energy efficiency.
• Shatterproof
• Biodegradable
• design of advanced materials applications.
Stronger than glass and plastic
• Energy efficient
• Low density.
• Fire retardant property: During a fire, fire-
retardant chemicals begin to react when
temperatures reach a point slightly below the
point where wood will ignite. Non-flammable
gases and water vapour are formed and
released at a slow steady rate thereby
insulating the wood fibers from temperatures
that would cause them to burn.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
• Wood is a natural growth material that
possesses excellent mechanical properties,
including high strength, good durability,
high moisture content, and high specific
gravity.
• Transparent wood derives its mechanical
properties and performance primarily
from its cellulose fiber content and the
geometric orientation of the fiber tube
cells (radial and tangential) structure,
providing the structural base for the
ADVANTAGES
• Transparent wood is shatterproof.
• It is significantly more biodegradable
than glass or plastic.
• It is stronger than glass and plastic.
• It achieves a 85% transmittance rate for
light.
• It has excellent mechanical properties,
including strength, toughness, low
density and low thermal conductivity.
• Economic and suitable for mass
production in the future.
• It could reduce a building's net energy
consumption not only by reducing the
need for artificial lighting but also by
generating electricity.
LIMITATIONS
• Currently, the researchers can only treat
wood chunks that are up to about four
inches to a side.
• They are currently limited to about a
centimeter in thickness, although they have
made clear wood that is as thin as a sheet
of paper as well.
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
• The researchers say widespread use of their
"transparent" wood could slash energy costs
by reducing the need for artificial lighting
inside homes and other buildings.
• At a time when residences account for 27%
of global energy consumption and 17% of
carbon dioxide emissions transparent wood
can allow homeowners to take major an
meaningful steps to shrink their negative
environmental impact.
• In a world where modern urban architecture
relies heavily on the use of glass and steel,
replacing these materials with transparent,
biodegradable wood could revolutionize
design concepts -- as well as reduce heating
costs and help to lower fuel consumption.
APPLICATIONS-
• LOAD BEARING WINDOWS:
•Since Transparent Wood is tougher than glass
and can sustain more load that the later, it
would be a better material to use for load
bearing windows.
• SOLAR CELL WINDOWS:
The wood isn’t crystal clear, but hazy. The
haziness means the material traps some light.
This suggests it could create highly efficient
solar cell "windows" that generate electricity
while letting sunlight pass through. The light
transmission and haze of transparent wood
can be used to augment the amount of light
available for solar cells, increasing efficiency
by up to 30%.
• SOLAR PANEL:
According to a study detailing the research
the construction sector accounts for around
thirty to forty percent of total energy
consumption.
It is therefore of great importance to reduce
energy consumption in the building sector.
Solar energy is attractive in this context
since it is free, inexhaustible, and clean.
Light-transmitting buildings can also
contribute to reduced demand, since
artificial light can be partially replaced by
natural light.“
• CURTAIN WALLS:
The joineries between wood and
transparent wood are much preferred
when compared to joineries between wood
and glass. Transparent wood is also
stronger and more weather resistance than
 HYDROPHOBIC CEMENT
INTRODUCTION-
• Hydrophobic cement is obtained by grinding Portland cement
clinker with a film-forming substance such as oleic acid in
order to reduce the rate of deterioration when the cement is
stored under unfavorable conditions. It is also known as
Hydrographic cement.
MANUFACTURE OF HYDROPHOBIC CEMENT
• The process of manufacture of this special cement is same
as that of portland cement.
• The clinkers formed in the manufacture of cement are
grinded with water repellent film substance such as Oleic
Acid or Stearic Acid.
• These chemicals form a layer on the cement particle and
does not allow water to mix and start hydration process in
the transportation or storage stage. Anyhow during the
mixing process, due to great agitation, this layer of water
repellent break and allows the hydration to take place.
• PROPERTIES-
• The ultimate goal when forming a hydrophobic material is to reduce the polarity of
the molecules. Because water molecules are very polar, they are easily attract to
partially positive or partially negative charges.
• On a neutral surface, water molecules bunch up and attract each other, creating a
spherical droplet of water.
• These droplets can then evaporate off the concrete surface rather than be
absorbed into the capillaries of the concrete.
• The exact structure and composition of the crystals used in hydrophobic concrete
is not public information; due to its properties, however, it can be assumed that it
is a non-polar molecule.
• The property to repel water gives hydrophobic concrete the ability to avoid
contamination by particles dissolved in water drops. Because the crystals
themselves are not polar, there is little interaction between the crystals and
dissolved oxygen.
• This allows the concrete to withstand the rebar rusting that so often compromises
the strength of concrete that has iron bars running through it.
• Standard commercial concrete has an average water absorption of 4-10%. In
contrast, hydrophobic concrete has an average of 0.3-1%.
• An overlooked property of hydrophobic concrete is its ability to repel humidity in
the air as well.
• In contrast to liquid water, water molecules in the air moving with a higher kinetic
energy and ultimately exist in a gas-like form.
• The crystal structures in hydrophobic concrete are compact enough to prevent
humidity from moving through the capillaries of the concrete.
 USES OF HYDROPHOBIC CEMENT
• Uses in longer storage periods and extremely wet Health and Safety Precautions of Hydrophobic Cement
climatic conditions. • Avoid breathing the dust.
• Majorly used in the Tunnel construction as • Avoid any contact with eyes or skin.
the underground repairs are difficult and costly. • Silica inhaling may cause lung problems, although there is no real evidence silica is a
• These cements are used in construction of dams, carcinogen.
spillways, under water constructions. • The use of protective clothing: gloves or mask is recommended.
• Used in the structures that are exposed to rain or rain
Applications
pudding, such as green roofs, other kinds of roofs,
• Super-hydrophobic cement is able to absorb and reflect light, offering an alternative to
parking structures, and plazas.
street lighting as the ground would be lit up using this luminescent cement.
• Used in drainage system works and manholes.
• The durability of Super-hydrophobic Cement makes it a suitable material to solve
• Used in water treatment plants , dams and retaining
challenges regarding sustainable transportation, infrastructure, and safety.
walls.
• Moreover, it can be used to replace normal concrete in critical infrastructure elements.
• It can fix leaky pipes and basements without having
Lastly, super-hydrophobic cement can be incorporated into critical portions of
to stop the leaking.
infrastructure that are prone to severe weathering and deformations
Advantages of Hydrophobic Cement
• Provide durable repairs that will last for long period
of times.
• Strength is same as that of ordinary cement.
• Sets and hardens fast, normally three minutes after
being mixed with water.
• Setting time is fast, hardens fast, thus it can be
painted within one hour of it being applied.
Disadvantages of Hydrophobic Cement
• The major disadvantages of hydrophobic cement are,
• Does not work on frozen surfaces.
• Cannot be used when the temperature is below 40
degrees Fahrenheit.
• This cement solves the problem of leaking, but does
not solve the problems which are due to
condensation.
• Needs skilled labour and favourable climatic
conditions to use this type of cement.
• Cost is high as it is very expensive.