They promise to revolutionize the construction sector with HTRANS, a translucent concrete, a pioneer worldwide, which allows to incorporate 3D printed designs inside and create facades or pavements on demand. Its designers are José Ramón Albiol Ibáñez and Miguel Sánchez López, 2 researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).

The first of them explains that translucent concrete already exists, "but its manufacture is very artisanal, manual". Therefore, he says, "we were thinking about how to manufacture and process in a very fast way and that is achieved with 3D printing."

He emphasizes that they are "the first in the world that we have managed to make this concrete by introducing 3D printed pieces inside".

A saving of 80% compared to conventional translucent concrete

With HTRANS, they exhibit at UPV Radiotelevisió, structures can be created with groundbreaking images and multiple shapes, at a cheaper price than with conventional translucent concrete.

Professor Albiol says that the savings can be as much as 80%, since "we use 3D printed resins that are very economical".

The optical fiber that was traditionally used, continues the researcher at the University of Valencia, is very expensive.

With this pioneering product that they have patented, "we cheapen the process because it is a 3D printing, a machine that does the work for us".

Patented by the UPV

The process to obtain the final product, they stress, is very simple. Miguel Sánchez López details: "We have a transparent resin structure, which is placed inside a mold. Then a liquid concrete pour is made, and the structure is trapped inside that concrete. Later the 2 faces are polished, and the final result is reached".

HTRANS translucent concrete is patented by the Polytechnic University of Valencia and, although it is mainly indicated for construction, they point out that it can also have other uses, such as the manufacture of furniture, countertops or pavements, among many other applications.

Source

Business Insider

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