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Researchers at Drexel University Created a New Type of Cement Capable of Heating and Cooling Surfaces Passively, Inspired by the Anatomy of Elephants and Hares. The Goal is to Reduce the Energy Consumption of Buildings, Making Walls and Floors Natural Temperature Regulators.
Researchers at Drexel University in the United States developed a new building material with the potential to transform how buildings control temperature.
Inspired by the anatomy of hares and elephants, the bioinspired cement can help reduce energy use in heating and cooling systems.
The secret lies in the internal structure of the material, which mimics the vascular system present in the ears of these animals, known for their ability to regulate body heat.
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The team used paraffin to create a passive heating and cooling system integrated into the concrete itself.
An Answer to the Energy Demand of Buildings
The motivation behind the project stems from an alarming fact: buildings are responsible for about 40% of total energy consumption.
Half of that amount is dedicated to heating or cooling. Reducing this dependence can bring significant environmental and economic gains.
“Architecturally, it is common for modern buildings to have many windows, which compromises thermal insulation,” explained Rhythm Osan, an engineering student and co-author of the study. According to him, even with modern techniques, there are always heat losses due to construction flaws, such as leaky ducts and thermal bridges.
In light of this, the team decided not to combat leaks but rather to use the surfaces themselves as active temperature regulators.
How Concrete and Paraffin Work Together
The new material combines a polymer matrix printed with traditional concrete, forming a network of internal channels.
These channels are filled with paraffin, a material known for its phase-change capability, meaning it absorbs or releases heat when changing from solid to liquid and vice versa.
Robin Deb, a scientist at the Drexel Advanced Infrastructure Materials Laboratory, explained that paraffin has been used in self-heating concrete, being reliable and natural for temperature management. In this new project, the paraffin used has a melting point of approximately 18°C, ideal for testing in cold environments.
This behavior resembles the circulatory system of animals. “When it is hot, blood goes to the surface of the skin, which facilitates cooling,” explained Amir Farnam, professor and project leader. “We wanted to replicate this natural mechanism in building materials.”
Tests with Different Channel Shapes
To evaluate the effectiveness of the bioinspired cement, the team created several samples with different channel designs: simple, parallel, diagonal, multiple, and diamond-shaped. The thicknesses varied between 3 and 8 millimeters.
The channels were filled with paraffin, and the samples underwent mechanical resistance and thermal capacity tests.
The model with diamond-shaped channels was the most efficient. It maintained good resistance and was able to slow down surface temperature changes by up to 1.25°C per hour.
“We found that a larger vascularized area improves thermal performance. This makes sense, as the ears of elephants and hares function in the same way,” said Deb.
Sustainable and Strong
Even with internal channels, the material proved strong enough for practical use. The addition of fine aggregates helped maintain strength without compromising the functioning of the channels.
According to Farnam, the study serves as proof of concept. The idea is to develop smarter, eco-friendly, and resilient materials for large-scale use. “These results are promising and provide a basis for new advancements,” he stated.
Next Steps of the Research
The team now intends to expand testing. The plan includes using different phase change materials, creating new channel designs, and producing larger samples.
Future trials should also occur over longer periods and in varied environmental conditions.
The goal is to verify the thermal performance of the material in real-world situations and over extended periods.
The team believes that the new cement could become an important tool for making buildings more efficient, reducing reliance on heating and cooling systems.
The full study was published in the scientific journal Journal of Building Engineering.
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