3dp Biowall - Circular Economy in Wood Construction Through Additive Manufacturing of Fully Recycable Walls

Abstract

To further increase the environmental potential of renewable raw materials, a new construction concept for fully recyclable bio-based wall elements assembled by additive manufacturing, called 3DP Biowall, is presented. The proposed concept considers the entire life cycle from material converting, to manufacturing and application, over to recycling and restarting a new construction phase. With the help of this method the materials are kept significantly longer in a closed material cycle, with conceptually no waste production. A fully biobased material mixture of wood particles and Biomix (sodium lignosulfonate and starch) is used. The present paper describes the basic approach, first production experiments as well as the achieved mechanical performance within compression and flexural tests performed with first test specimens. Furthermore, the potential of the closed material loop approach is assessed through an LCA and by comparing the 3DP Biowall to other well-known exterior wall systems. All production life cycle phases were regarded and experimentally investigated. The successful production tests and the achieved mechanical characteristics prove the feasibility and potential of the new approach. The performed LCA points out further optimisation potential regarding the mixture with the starch component having a comparatively high impact at the environmental footprint of the material mixture.