Lightweight Building Materials Research Articles

Preparation of egg-structured ceramsites from molybdenum tailings with improved properties

Conversion of solid waste tailings into building materials is an effective way to turn waste into resources as well as resolve the problems of their accumulation and pollution. Herein, in this paper, light-weight and high strength molybdenum tailings ceramsites (LHMCs) were prepared using molybdenum tailings as the main raw material supplemented with fly ash, sludge, steel slag and other solid wastes by egg-structure (three-layer structure) design and high-temperature sintering. The effects of raw material ratio, amount of carbon powder agent, sintering temperature, and sintering time on the properties of LHMCs were investigated, and the optimal preparation process was proposed to be preheating at 400 °C for 60 min and sintering at 1150 °C for 40 min. The results of the physicochemical properties, morphology, and component analysis of LHMCs show that the LHMCs with egg-structure including porous core, reinforced middle layer, and dense outer layer can significantly increase the strength of the ceramsites under the premise of ensuring the low density of the ceramsites. Meanwhile, the doping of molybdenum tailings improves the physical properties of the ceramsites and achieves the reuse of waste tailings. Importantly, the optimized LHMCs can meet the performance requirements of 900-grade ceramsites. This paper proposes a strategy for the preparation of tailings-doped light-weight and high-strength ceramic building materials, which provides a new idea for the recycling of solid waste.

Preparation of Hydrophilic and Fire-Resistant Phytic Acid/Chitosan/Polydopamine-Coated Expanded Polystyrene Particles by Using Coating Method

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) particles are commonly used for thermal insulation in lightweight building materials due to their low density, low thermal conductivity, and affordability. However, shortcomings such as hydrophobicity and poor fire safety limit the application of EPS. Bio-based flame retardants have been developed for use in polymer composites due to their renewable, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic properties. In this study, to improve the hydrophilicity and fire resistance of EPS particles, phytic acid (PA)/chitosan (CS)–polydopamine (PDA)@EPS particles (PA/CS-PDA@EPS) with a bio-based coating were prepared by using a simple coating method based on PDA@EPS particles using PDA as an adhesive and PA and CS as bio-based flame retardants. The results showed that the modified EPS particles had good hydrophilicity, the residual carbon yield of the 10PA/3CS-PDA@EPS samples was increased to 24 wt%, and the maximum loss rate was reduced by 69% compared with unmodified EPS. In flammability tests, the 10PA/3CS-PDA@EPS samples also demonstrated low flame spread and some fire resistance. Furthermore, the modified EPS particles exhibited fire resistance even after multiple washings. The hydrophilic and fire-resistant modified EPS particles are anticipated to offer a novel approach to the advancement of EPS-based lightweight building materials.

Review on Aerated Lightweight Concrete Challenges and Application

This study explores the use of environmentally friendly Aerated Lightweight Concrete (ALC) in constructions, focusing on its versatility and adaptability to various densities. The growing demand for lightweight building materials with excellent strength-to-weight ratios has led to an expansion in the use of ALC over the past decade. The focus is on creating customized ALC for specific uses, rather than introducing novel materials. The article analyzes the primary variables affecting ALC use, such as raw materials, manufacturing processes, and anticipated density-based features. The review aims to demonstrate how ALC's physical and mechanical properties can be altered for building applications using new and alternative raw materials.

Biomimetic versatile wood hybrids with gradient structure towards lightweight, high strength, fire-retardant, and deterioration-resistant materials

The development of versatile wood-based biomaterials with integrated low density, high surface hardness, high strength, fire-resistance, anti-decay, and termite-resistance is highly desirable, yet challenging to skillfully fabricate. Inspired by the ubiquity of gradient biostructures in nature, we achieve biomimetic gradient densification structures by controlling the distribution of thermal-moisture fields within the wood, and combine this with in-situ curing of polyacrylic acid/borate supramolecular resins within the wood cells to transform bulk natural wood into lightweight, high strength, and multifunctional materials. The optimally gradient-densified hybrid wood, with a slight increase in density, demonstrates markedly improved mechanical properties (≈2.4 × increase in surface hardness, ≈52 % increase in flexural strength), excellent dimensional stability, and leaching resistance. In addition, the collaboration of the gradient-densified structure and the in-situ cured acrylic resin/borate supramolecular network provides the biomimetic wood hybrids with excellent fire resistance (V-0 rating in fire retardant grade, 74 % reduction in total smoke release, ≈2.5 × increase in fire performance index), decay and mildew resistance (mass loss of less than 10 %), as well as termite resistance (100 % protection efficiency and termite kill rate) properties. It is the first report to combine gradient densification with in-situ curing of supramolecular resins in the structural design and functionalization of wood-based composites. This new design principle provides guidance for fabricating advanced all-in-one wood materials with applications in lightweight, strong, fire-resistant, deterioration-resistant, and scalable building and furniture materials.

Synthesis of geopolymer composites using bauxite residue-based spheres as aggregate: Novel and eco-friendly strategy to produce lightweight building materials

In this study, and for the first time, highly porous red mud-based geopolymer spheres were produced, through a very simple and scalable procedure, and used as lightweight aggregate in the synthesis of geopolymer composites. To further demonstrate the potential of this unexplored route, a comparison with composites containing expanded perlite and expanded vermiculite was also performed. The sample produced with 85 vol% of spheres showed the lowest geometric density (0.84 g/cm3) amongst the studied composites, coupled with a suitable compressive strength (1.0 MPa), low thermal conductivity (175 mW/m K), and excellent thermal stability after exposure to 1000 °C for 2h. The much lower production temperature (80 °C), compared with the commercial expanded aggregates (above 650 °C), and the reuse of significant amounts of bauxite residue (strategy aligned with the circular economy) enables the production of eco-friendly lightweight aggregates for the building sector.

Investigation on alkali-activated insulation mortar containing high-volume recycled concrete powder for energy-efficient buildings

The influence of recycled concrete powder (RCP) on the thermal insulation of alkali-activated materials remains unclear. Hence, this study develops an innovative alkali-activated insulation mortar, serving RCP and blast furnace slag as the precursor and expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads as fine aggregate, together with air entrainer. Experimental results show that the mortar had satisfactory workability owing to the RCP substitution, supported by appearance and infrared thermal imaging tests. As the ratio increased, the density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity of the mortar decreased, due to the increasing volume of porous paste and internal air voids. Subsequently, the material design of the mortar was optimized through the adjusted Box-Behnken design. The obtained mortar achieved a high-volume use (61.7 wt%) of RCP, and exhibited an extremely low conductivity (∼0.030 W/(m∙K)) among novel lightweight building materials. Energy simulation further indicates that the optimized mortar can surpass traditional insulation materials, including EPS, polyurethane, and rock wool panels, in reducing air conditioning energy consumption across all seasons and climate zones. This was particularly evident in colder cities such as Harbin and Lhasa. Given that increasing the thermal resistance of the envelope can effectively reduce building energy consumption, the development of such sustainable alkali-activated insulation mortar would undoubtedly contribute to the implementation of energy-efficient buildings.

Achieving sustainable built-environment using bamboo composite frame system with cow-dung masonry infills

In today's rapidly urbanizing world, there is dire need for adopting the principles of green/ sustainable built-environment so as to mitigate the ill effects of environmental degradation and climate change. However, demand for housing is on rise in developing countries like India, where sizeable population, especially the low-income strata, still lacks decent quality structurally safe housing. Extensive use of concrete and steel in construction over more than a century has led to detrimental environmental effects such uncontrolled release of greenhouse gases/ pollutants, deforestation and erosion, leading to now visible outcomes of climate change. Bamboo, on other hand provides a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel as a building material since it absorbs the atmospheric carbon dioxide, produces more oxygen than timber producing trees and is a lightweight and renewable building material. Unlike timber, it matures in four to five years and being grass family, is replenishable in nature. However, from structural point of view, the main drawback of bamboo culm is its large slenderness ratio, which renders it weak in resisting bending and compressive loads. This paper presents an alternate structural system utilizing fibre reinforced bamboo composite (FRBC) to overcome the structural deficiency of a single shoot bamboo and build a prototype structure after detailed laboratory evaluation and structural analysis. Structural elements made from FRBC are utilized for fabricating a prototype 3D frame structure, measuring about 24 m2 in plan, representing a modular unit amenable to horizontal and vertical expansion. Eco-friendly materials like cow-dung based bricks and mortar, which offer net zero additional carbon dioxide emissions and circumvent reliance on cement and river sand, have been utilized as masonry infills after structural evaluation. The built structure provides a proof-of-concept demonstration of the feasibility of using bamboo and cow-dung, sustainable building materials, for achieving a structurally safe built-environment. The technology is especially suitable for countries like India which are endowed with tropical climatic conditions. By adopting such environmentally friendly alternatives, the construction industry can create a healthier environment while addressing housing and infrastructure needs in sustainable manner.

Influence of Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) Nanoparticles on Durability Properties of Lightweight Foamed Concrete

The worldwide construction industry has realized the need for lightweight building materials that are flexible, high-performance, and ecologically benign. Considering the need, it has been found that lightweight foamed concrete (LFC), a new revolutionary material, can be used to lower the overall weight of conventional concrete. In concrete, nanoparticles are used due to their beneficial effects, such as their tiny size of particles and high reactivity to improve concrete’s strength. Furthermore, LFC is quite porous due to which it becomes less effective. The LFC matrix can be made effective by including many nanoparticles to improve its strength. In the current body of information, the impact of nano titanium dioxide in LFC has not yet been studied. As a result, there is considerable confusion regarding the method by which the nano TiO2 might influence the LFC's durability properties. Therefore, the application of nano TiO2 in the LFC matrix is the main emphasis of this work. The goal was to determine how various nano TiO2 weight fractions (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%) affect the durability characteristics of LFC, including setting time, drying shrinkage, porosity, and water absorption. The findings suggested that excellent water absorption, porosity, and drying shrinkage of LFC are made possible by the presence of a 3% weight fraction of nano TiO2 in LFC. The microstructural of LFC is changed by the addition of nano TiO2.

Investigation of effective replacement of sand by waste perlite in AAC production

AbstractAerated concrete is a lightweight building material with excellent thermal and technical properties, relative to strength, excellent workability, and is economically advantageous. The basic composition of raw materials includes lime, cement, silica sand, and aluminum powder. Currently, the usability of secondary raw materials is being investigated in many construction sectors. The usability of secondary raw materials becomes a necessity from an ecological and economic point of view. The elimination of CO2 emissions is currently a major global issue. Secondary raw materials used in the construction industry are most often waste materials produced during the combustion of solid substances. These substances are often accumulated in landfills, which have a negative impact on the surrounding environment. It is necessary to constantly look for new ways of using these waste materials not only in the construction industry. The use of these raw materials reduces the price of the final product. It is advantageous if it also brings about a positive change in the properties of aerated concrete. The article deals with the possibility of replacing part or all of the sand content in the recipe of autoclaved aerated concrete with waste perlite. As part of the experimental verification, the influence of waste perlite filler on physical‐mechanical properties (e.g., bulk density, strength) and changes in microstructure is investigated. Primary sand is replaced by perlite in the amount of 10%, 30%, 50%, and 100% by volume in the experiments. The formation of porous structure, its characteristics, and mineralogical composition, in particular the formation of tobermorite, is also evaluated. The study has brought an interesting finding. The results show that the maximum beneficial amount of waste perlite is 30%. Up to this limit, waste perlite has a positive effect on the even distribution of pores in the matrix, with a zero‐phase content of more than 65%. The compressive strength of the samples with waste perlite increases by up to 22% of the values of the compressive strength of the reference sample.

A novel bionic straw-filled concrete block: compression and heat-transfer performance

To develop economical, environmentally friendly and lightweight building materials, a novel straw-filled bionic concrete hollow block (BCHB) was designed. Compression tests were conducted to determine the compressive strength of the BCHB. Furthermore, the compressive and heat-transfer properties of these blocks were investigated with finite-element analysis, and the following results were observed. (a) The BCHB model did not easily experience local collapse. Instead, it mainly exhibited thin cracks due to shear failure, providing great cracking and collapse resistance, thereby resulting in excellent compressive performance. (b) By reducing the thickness of the short edges of the BCHB models, they exhibited great compressive and thermal insulation performance, making these the preferred BCHBs. (c) The BCHB presented herein was the simplest model of the beetle elytron plate. In contrast to a traditional hollow brick, the BCHB was proven to be a lightweight, fully enclosed brick (block) with a high hollow ratio and could be used as a new non-bearing wall material replacing the traditional type in building construction.

EAACA net zero roadmap for autoclaved aerated concrete

AbstractThis roadmap sets out a pathway for Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) products to reach net‐zero emissions by 2050 with the potential to become carbon negative, thereby absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they produce. The roadmap aligns the European Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Association (EAACA) and its members with the objectives of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C and supports policies to decarbonize Europe's buildings and construction sectors. AAC is a lightweight, yet strong and durable building material that offers ultra‐efficient thermal insulation, optimum fire protection, and a high load‐bearing capacity. With its net‐zero roadmap and the potential to become carbon negative, AAC has a role to play as a building material in helping to reduce the life‐cycle emissions of Europe's buildings. The roadmap sets out the main levers that must be applied to achieve this. We have drawn these from known technologies and have based our net‐zero target on a life‐cycle analysis provided by an independently verified Environmental Product Declaration. As the majority of CO2e emissions come not from the manufacture of AAC itself, but from the manufacture of two key raw materials—cement and lime—the roadmap draws on the decarburization pathways published by global and European cement and lime industry associations. The building and construction sectors account for a significant share of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Through this roadmap, the EAACA and its members are committed to achieving net‐zero emissions in AAC products by 2050 and supporting the development of a climate‐neutral Europe.

Eco-friendly lightweight composite prepared with a geopolymer and wheat straw

Agricultural waste shows promise for use in lightweight building materials. The combination of a geopolymer and wheat straw (WS) is adopted to produce a kind of eco-friendly lightweight composite. Using WS pretreated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium metasilicate (Na2SiO3) solutions, the influence of WS on the properties of the geopolymer–WS composite (GWSC) is investigated. The pretreated WS avoids the retarding effect of the untreated WS on the hydration of the geopolymer and even presents an accelerating effect. Increasing the content of pretreated WS generally results in a reduction in apparent density and strength. A GWSC with an apparent density of 1000–1500 kg/m3 can be prepared, corresponding to a 28-day compressive strength between 5 and 25 MPa. The water absorption linearly increases with the increase in the pretreated WS content, while an appropriate amount of the pretreated WS can enhance the water resistance of the GWSC. A WS/fly ash ratio lower than 8% can produce a GWSC with qualified thermal insulation performance. Alkaline treatment, particularly sodium hydroxide treatment, significantly improves the bonding strength between the fiber and the geopolymer matrix. In addition, pretreated WS saturated with sodium hydroxide and sodium metasilicate solutions is beneficial to the fluidity of the geopolymer–WS mixture and could act as an internal curing agent for enhancing the hydration of the geopolymer.

Preparation of eco-friendly functional lightweight gypsum: Effect of three different lightweight aggregates

Phosphogypsum (PG) is the main solid waste produced in the phosphorous chemical industry, and its resource utilization has become an international problem. Simultaneously, the research and development of lightweight building materials are the key means to achieving building energy conservation and reducing energy consumption. This paper uses hemihydrate phosphogypsum-based cementitious material as the matrix material, and porous structure lightweight aggregate (LWA) as the lightweight component to prepare lightweight gypsum. The properties of the composites were carefully investigated by the examination of mechanical strength, bulk density, drying shrinkage, thermal conductivity, sound absorption coefficient, pore structure, and microstructure. The results show that it can be achieved to obtain lightweight gypsum with a bulk density ranging from 300 kg/m3 to 1500 kg/m3. In terms of thermal behaviour and sound absorption, the lightweight gypsum with pottery sand has the smallest reduction in thermal conductivity, and EPS particles have the largest reduction. Through the introduction of a cavity resonance structure, expanded perlite significantly improved the sound-absorbing performance of the composites, while pottery sand had the least favorable effects. Pottery sand reduces the number of open pores, while expanded perlite increases the number of open pores in the composites. However, the addition of EPS particles can greatly increase the number of closed pores in the composites. This research offers a useful method for the preparation of eco-friendly and functional integrated lightweight gypsum.

Potential utilization of CO2 foams in developing lightweight building materials

Energy conservation and emission reduction are key focuses in the field of building engineering. In this study, carbon dioxide gas was utilized to develop carbon dioxide foam cement paste materials. The properties of the samples were evaluated by considering the optimal foaming agent, water-cement ratio, foam-grout ratio, and pump speed. To elucidate the carbonation mechanisms, the microstructure and phase composition were analyzed with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results demonstrated that the 3-day compressive strength of the test sample was 272.72% higher than that of an air foam cement paste. Additionally, the carbon dioxide foam cement paste exhibited a lower density than ordinary cement-based paste, while its 3-day compressive strength was 14.08% higher than that of the ordinary cement-based paste. Moreover, the price per cubic meter of the carbon dioxide foam cement paste was 19.02% lower than that of the ordinary cement-based paste. The introduction of carbon dioxide foam led to the consumption of hydration products near the voids and accelerated the carbonation reactions of the cement particles around the void-cement interfaces. This promoted the solidification of the foam within the cement paste, ultimately enhancing the early strength of concretion.

Contribution of Lightweight Building Materials to Contemporary Construction

Eski çağlardan başlayıp, günümüz çağdaş yapılarına kadar gelen mimari, insanoğlunun hayatının hep bir köşesinde bulunmuştur. Dolasıyla ihtiyaçlar doğrultusunda, bir örtü düzeneği sayesinde oluşturulan çadırlardan, günümüz gökdelenlerine kadar birçok evre ile yapılar hep gelişmiştir. Sanayi Devrimi’nin de etkisiyle 20. yy içerisinde teknolojinin daha da hızlanması direkt olarak yapı sektörünü de değiştirip, geliştirmiştir. Mimariye katılan yeni malzemelerin uygulanması, yapıda farklı kavramları ortaya çıkarmış ve daha tercih edilir nitelikte olmuştur. Eskiden taşıyıcı özelliğinde olan malzemeler, yapının formuyla strüktürünü ayırıp, mimar ve mühendislerin tasarım dili haline gelmiş ve daha ulaşılabilir çözümler sunmaya başlamıştır. Özellikle 20. yy içinde üretilen ve mevcut yapı stoğunda hala geliştirilmeye devam eden hafif malzemeler, strüktür sistemlerin geldiği son aşama olup, yapılardaki birçok soruna cevap vermektedir. Çelik, katkılı beton, cam sistemler, ahşap sistemler, pnömatik sistemler, membran ve tekstil sistemlerden oluşan hafif strüktür malzemeleri, yapı fonksiyonuna; sürdürülebilirlik, enerji etkinliği, geri dönüştürülebilir malzeme kullanımı, afet durumundaki davranışı, akıllı mimariye katkıları, geçirgen alanlar ve erişilebilir mekân organizasyonları tasarımı gibi birçok avantajı da beraberinde getirmektedir. Bu çalışmada, hafif strüktür malzemelerin yapıların strüktür ve formuna dahil olurken tasarıma etkileri, yapıya ve çevresine katkısı, sürdürülebilir ve geri dönüştürülebilir yapı tasarımına etkisi, deprem ve yangın anında yapıya etkileri, afet sonrası geçici yapılaşmaya katkıları incelenmiştir.

MECHANICAL BEHAVIOUR OF FERROCEMENT LIGHTWEIGHT BANANA FIBRE CONCRETE UNDER UNIAXIAL BENDING

To obtain lightweight and environmentally friendly building materials that can be produced quickly at low cost, among others, can be obtained through the use of natural fiber based ferrocement concrete technology. The use of light weight building materials combined with natural fibers to form structural components is intended to reduce the weight of the building mass but also to protect the environment and benefit banana farmers' income. Ferrocement lightweight concrete (FLWC) can be obtained by partially substituting fine aggregate with pumice sand and by adding banana stem fiber to form a ferrocement lightweight fiber concrete (FLWFC) composition. Compressive and tensile tests on ferrocement lightweight concrete and ferrocement light fiber concrete were carried out at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, respectively. The test results showed that the optimal composition of FLWC and FLWFC occurred in the substitution of pumice sand by 40% and banana stem fibers with a length of 3 cm by 0.05% of the weight of cement and obtained a concrete mass density of 1437 kg. The compressive strength and tensile strength of FLWC without fiber at 28 days were 8.4 MPa and 2.15 MPa respectively, while FLWC with fiber added increased by about 6%, namely 8.9 MPa for compressive strength and 83% for tensile strength is 3.94 MPa. Flexural tensile strength of Sandwich Wall Panels (SWP) at 28 days of prism-shaped specimens with dimensions of 60 x 30 x 5 cm, 45 x 15 x 4 cm and 30 x 10 x 3 cm respectively 1.60 MPa, 1.86 MPa and 2.4 MPa for FLWC without banana stem fiber. The increase in the flexural tensile strength of the SWP was 40.63% (2.25 MPa), 21.51% (2.26 MPa) and 18.75% (2.85 MPa) respectively in the SWP-FLWC using Banana Fibers (BF) or an average of 26% increase. The size effect of the SWP test object looks significant, that is, there is a tendency that the larger the dimensions of the test object, the smaller the flexural tensile strength value, but on the contrary, the role of banana stem fiber in contributing to the increase in flexural tensile strength is seen to be more significant.

The Growth of Titi Plant (Gmelina moluccana) and Environmental Factors that Affect It

The Growth of Titi Plant (Gmelina moluccana) and Environmental Factors that Affect It

Comparison of Different Aerogel Granules for Use as Aggregate in Concrete

In previous work of this group, a structural lightweight concrete was developed by embedding silica aerogel granules in a high-strength cement matrix. This concrete, called high-performance aerogel concrete (HPAC), is a lightweight building material characterized by its simultaneous high compressive strength and very low thermal conductivity. Besides these features, high sound absorption, diffusion permeability, water repellence and fire resistance qualify HPAC as an interesting material for the construction of single-leaf exterior walls without any further insulation. During the development of HPAC, the type of silica aerogel was found to majorly influence both fresh and hardened concrete properties. To clarify these effects, a systematic comparison of SiO2 aerogel granules with different levels of hydrophobicity as well as different synthesis methods was conducted in the present study. The granules were analyzed for their chemical and physical properties as well as their compatibility in HPAC mixtures. These experiments included determinations of pore size distribution, thermal stability, porosity, specific surface and hydrophobicity, as well as fresh/hardened concrete experiments such as measurements of compressive strength, flexural bending strength, thermal conductivity and shrinking behavior. It was found that the type of aerogel has a major influence on the fresh and hardened concrete properties of HPAC, particularly compressive strength and shrinkage behavior, whereas the effect on thermal conductivity is not very pronounced.

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PAPERCRETE AS A NEW MORTAR FOR BRICK PANEL INSTALLATION

This research focuses on the development of lightweight and soundproof building materials using waste paper or pulp as a component, with the aim of improving quality of life and reducing environmental pollution. Papercrete, made from unused waste paper, has environmentally friendly characteristics and can be used as the main structure of buildings. The study investigated the effect of pulp on the stress behavior of panels and tested the reusability of paper as a lightweight and eco-friendly brick material. The research method involved experimental procedures, using specialized equipment and materials to determine the properties and performance of different types of concrete mixes. Results indicate that papercrete has potential as an eco-friendly construction material with physical and mechanical properties suitable for reinforcing brick panels. Further research is recommended to investigate the effect of paper chip size on concrete strength under different humidity and temperature conditions, and to analyze the environmental impact of using papercrete as a construction material. The findings suggest that papercrete holds promise as a new and sustainable construction material. Testing papercrete in real-world scenarios could provide valuable insights into its durability and suitability for different applications.

An all-natural fire-resistant bioinspired cellulose-based structural material by external force-induced assembly

Natural wood is a widely used structural building material because of its light weight and high strength, yet it is limited by the ignitability. Traditional top-down strategies can delay the burning time of wood-derived materials but hardly reach incombustible performance. Here, we develop a bottom-up external force-induced assembly strategy to fabricate nonburning nacre-mimetic structural materials based on the shear-thinning behavior of cellulose nanofibers, the main component of wood. The highly ordered brick-and-mortar structure endows the structural material with excellent comprehensive mechanical properties and oxygen insulation, giving it better specific flexural strength [143 MPa/(Mg m−3)] and limit oxygen index (100%) than various natural woods. Furthermore, the house model, made of bioinspired structural materials, does not burn or collapse even in a butane blowtorch flame (more than 1100 °C), demonstrating its great potential as a sustainable, lightweight, strong, and safe structural building material.