Who knew your worn-out carpet could help build stronger, crack-resistant buildings?
It might sound strange, but Australian engineers from RMIT University are turning this surprising idea into reality. By weaving old carpet fibres into concrete, researchers have developed a mix that’s tougher, longer-lasting, and more sustainable.
The magic of this breakthrough lies in how those fibres work their way into the concrete. According to a recent report from RMIT, incorporating scrap carpet fibres into the mix can slash early cracking in concrete by up to 30 per cent and give it a whopping 40 per cent boost in tensile strength.
Yes, those outdated carpets gathering dust in your garage could be key to fixing one of the construction industry’s biggest headaches.
“Cracking in early-age concrete slabs is a long-standing challenge in construction projects that can cause premature corrosion, not only making a building look bad but also risking its structural integrity and safety,” explained lead researcher Dr. Chamila Gunasekara.
Incredibly, these fibres don’t just strengthen concrete; they also tackle shrinkage, a major culprit behind cracks. That’s a big deal, considering Australia alone shells out AU$8 billion (over $5 billion) annually to repair these pesky cracks. And the U.S.? An eye-watering $76 billion.
Beyond making better concrete, this discovery has another bonus: reducing waste.
Australians throw away about 50 pounds of textiles per person each year, second only to the United States. Those old clothes and carpets often end up in landfills, where they release harmful methane gas and leach toxic chemicals into the environment.
Dr. Shadi Houshyar, an RMIT textile scientist, points out the bright side is that around 70 per cent of textile waste could be upcycled into other fibres.
Imagine turning yesterday’s fashion faux pas into tomorrow’s skyscraper foundations!
A global movement
The RMIT team isn’t stopping at carpets. They’re also experimenting with discarded clothing and collaborating with organisations like Textile Recyclers Australia and Godfrey Hirst Australia to scale their ideas.
Preliminary tests have shown that textiles-infused concrete meets Australian construction standards, and real-world trials are already underway.
And they’re not the only ones thinking outside the box. Other researchers have turned recycled high-visibility vests into concrete and even built a walking path at a Buddhist monastery. Over in China, scientists are finding ways to create concrete from municipal waste leftovers.
This not only addresses the global waste crisis but also paves the way for a stronger, more eco-friendly future – meaning the days of concrete being a plain, boring mix of sand, gravel, and cement might be over.
Who knows? The next time you rip out that shag carpet, you might just be holding the foundation for the next big construction project.
