3D Printed Glass Bricks: Building the Future, LEGO-Style

MIT engineers develop sturdy, reusable 3D-printed glass bricks for sustainable construction, rivaling concrete in strength.

MIT researchers have made a major breakthrough in construction technology by 3D printing reusable glass bricks with the strength of concrete. These innovative bricks could revolutionize the industry. This innovation could pave the way for a new era of circular construction, where building materials are used repeatedly, significantly reducing waste and environmental impact.

“Glass as a structural material kind of breaks people’s brains a little bit,” says Michael Stern, a former MIT graduate student and researcher, now founder of MIT spinoff Evenline. “We’re showing this is an opportunity to push the limits of what’s been done in architecture.”

The glass bricks, reminiscent of LEGO blocks, feature a unique figure-eight design that allows for curved construction projects. They’re created using a special 3D printer developed by Evenline, which uses molten recycled glass as its feedstock. The bricks interlock with small pegs on the bottom, mimicking the beloved toy building blocks.

But these aren’t just any ordinary building blocks. When put to the test in an industrial hydraulic press, the glass bricks demonstrated strength almost on par with concrete blocks. Adding an aluminum interlocking feature made them even sturdier.

What sets these glass bricks apart is their perfect alignment with circular construction principles:

1. If needed, they can be melted down and 3D printed into entirely new shapes.
2. They’re made from recycled glass.
3. They can be easily disassembled and reconfigured for new projects.

I get excited about expanding design and manufacturing spaces for challenging materials with interesting characteristics, like glass and its optical properties and recyclability,” says Kaitlyn Becker, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at MIT. “As long as it’s not contaminated, you can recycle glass almost infinitely.”

The team has already built a small demonstration wall using these innovative bricks, proving their concept’s viability. They’re now focusing on bigger projects, envisioning pavilions and other temporary structures that can be reused in different ways.

As the construction industry faces the challenge of its large carbon footprint, innovations like 3D-printed glass bricks point toward a greener future. If these bricks can be reused and repurposed, they stand to decrease the demand for new materials and result in much lower greenhouse gas emissions from that industry.

This MIT-born invention has the perfect mix of high-tech, sustainable brownie points, and dash childhood day dreams to be a game-changer in the way we consider construction materials. As we look towards a future of eco-friendly construction, these “brain-breaking” glass bricks might just be the building blocks we need.

Content Source: MIT

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