2024-08-19 15:00:32
We tend to think that history progresses in a linear trajectory forward and that the past is a memory that scholars treasure in dusty books. However, a recent study published by Stanford University and featured in an article on Ecoinventos.com could bring back a millennia-old material that could eradicate pollution in construction.
The material returning from the Bronze Age: bricks that store electric energy
Bronze was the material that, thousands of years ago, forever changed the course of human history. This alloy of copper and tin made it possible to manufacture more effective weapons and armor and was also widely used in crafts that distinguished the leaders of each community.
To manufacture these objects, ancient peoples were able to develop a technology of refractory bricks that allowed them to reach the high temperatures required for the melting and tempering of bronze. The Celtic peoples of Europe were the most recognized artisans in refining the techniques to produce works of the highest quality.
Now, experts from Stanford University have conducted a study on the potential of these refractory bricks to store energy in the form of heat that can then be used in the industry. According to the data obtained, this material could function as highly efficient batteries that would cost a tenth of the price of current storage systems.
From insulator to battery: the refractory brick that will eliminate industrial emissions
The ancient furnaces used for forging iron and bronze were built using bricks made from a material mixture that allowed them to retain large amounts of heat. Covered by an insulating layer, they maintained high temperatures that melted the metals that would then be used for forging or crafting.
The experts leading the study claim that it is possible to use the same materials from ancient bricks with some modifications in the proportions of the mixture. By installing a system of channels that would run through the blocks, the stored heat could be utilized when necessary in the manufacture of glass, steel, cement, or paper, among others.
The heat would be produced from solar or wind energy, and these refractory bricks would function as batteries, allowing for the energy to be used even when there is no wind or sun. This could almost completely eliminate the emissions from an industrial sector responsible for about 17% of the total greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Factories powered by renewable energy: the definitive material for decarbonization
To produce cement, temperatures above 1300º C are required, while for glass, steel, and iron, at least 1000º C is needed. These processes require large amounts of electricity or fossil fuels, which in turn produce tons of CO2 emissions and other harmful gases.
Obtaining this amount of energy through solar panels and wind turbines requires large capital investments and even more if batteries are to be installed for times without wind or sun. With this millennia-old material, it would be possible to supply electrical energy to these industries from renewable sources, significantly boosting the decarbonization of one of the most polluting sectors.
Living bricks and the return of ancient technologies: the construction of the future will be sustainable
The development of new materials like bio-concrete that absorbs carbon dioxide and generates oxygen is key to reducing emissions from the most polluting sectors. However, it will still take decades for them to be widely adopted. With the discovery of this new material shared by the website Ecoinventos.com, the transition would be much less costly and, therefore, faster.