Researchers Aim to Revolutionize Construction Industry

DENTON, Texas — Research by a team at the University of North Texas aims to revolutionize the construction industry by developing natural alternatives to fiberglass and other popular, nonbiodegradable building materials.

 

Four researchers from the university received a grant of almost $600,000 from the National Science Foundation’s Partnership for Innovation program to develop sustainable, energy-efficient, and multifunctional bioproducts for construction purposes.

 

The program aims to connect researchers and small businesses “in an effort to transform knowledge created by academic research into innovative solutions for the real world,” according to a statement from the university.

 

The team will work with Miami-based InnoVida Southeast and Ladonia Market Center in Ladonia, Texas, to develop composite panels that use plant fibers in place of glass fibers.

 

Dr. Nandika D’Souza, professor of materials science and engineering, will lead the team and oversee the design and creation of the new materials.

 

The composite materials could be used for construction, cars, and aircraft and for a number of other uses, according to the statement. Currently, three to five billion pounds of fiberglass are produced annually.

“D’Souza and her team have been studying the fibers produced by kenaf, a plant in the hibiscus family, as an alternative to glass and other synthetic fibers for several years,” the statement said.

 

Kenaf fibers are attractive because they offer the same strength to weight ratio as glass fibers.

 

The raw plant material will be provided by the United States Department of Agriculture and LMC.

 

The team will remove the outer layer of the plant and process it into useable fibers, which can then be made into biomaterials.

To extract the fibers, the kenaf must be soaked in water, where natural microorganisms can dissolve the nonessential plant material.

 

Dr. Michael Allen, an assistant professor in the university’s Department of Biological Sciences, will work on streamlining this ancient process by analyzing the present microorganisms using the University of North Texas’ recently acquired next-generation DNA sequencer, the statement said. 

 

“Once the interaction between the kenaf and the microorganisms is better understood, Allen is hopeful that he’ll be able to alter the processing environment and subsequently alter the properties of the fibers,” according to the university.

 

The project, which officially begins on September 1, will last two years.

 

Working with D’Souza and Allen on the university research team will be Dr. Vishwanath Prasad, vice president for research and economic development, and Dr. Yong Tao, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering. 

 

The team also will work with the university’s Murphy Center for Entrepreneurship and the Office of Sustainability.