Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an innovative process for manufacturing wall and ceiling elements that enable climate-friendly humidity regulation in interior spaces. These elements consist of recycled mineral waste materials and are manufactured using 3D printing. The aim is to regulate humidity in heavily used rooms without energy-intensive ventilation systems.
The construction elements are based on a moisture-binding material made from finely ground marble waste and a so-called geopolymer binder. Geopolymers consist of metakaolin and an alkaline solution, which produce a cement-like strength but release significantly less CO₂ during production. Production is carried out using binder jet printing technology, in which a potassium silicate solution is applied to a powder bed to solidify the layers.
“Our solution is suitable for high-traffic spaces for which the ventilation systems already in place are insufficient,” says Guillaume Habert, Professor for Sustainable Construction, who supervised the ETH research project.
The components are 20 x 20 cm in size and 4 cm thick and were tested for their hygroscopic properties. Simulations show that the use of such elements can significantly stabilize the humidity in heavily used rooms such as libraries. In a virtual test environment, the discomfort index – a measure of the loss of comfort caused by excessively high or low humidity – was reduced by up to 85 percent. “This process enables the efficient production of components in a wide variety of shapes,” says Benjamin Dillenburger.
“We were able to demonstrate with numerical simulations that the building components can significantly reduce humidity in heavily used indoor spaces,” says Magda Posani, summarising the main result of the research project.
This technology offers a more environmentally friendly alternative to mechanical ventilation systems, as it both saves energy and reduces emissions. In parallel, further optimization of the material composition is being worked on to further improve the environmental footprint of the components and to scale the technology to industrial applications. The research underlines the potential of 3D printing to drive forward sustainable and functional solutions in the construction industry.
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