Month: March 2024

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Hemp & 3d-Printing: Weaving Sustainability and Innovation

The world of 3d- printing is undergoing a fascinating metamorphosis, with eco-conscious materials like hemp filament emerging as a frontrunner. This article delves into the exciting potential of 3d-printing with hemp, exploring its sustainability credentials, economic and social impacts, and cost considerations.

 

Sustainable Marvel:

Hemp boasts exceptional sustainability qualities that translate beautifully to 3d- printing:

  • Rapidly Renewable: Hemp is a fast-growing crop requiring minimal water and pesticides. This translates to a significantly lower environmental footprint compared to traditional filament materials like ABS plastic.
  • Biodegradable: Unlike traditional plastics, hemp filament is biodegradable, breaking down naturally over time and minimizing waste accumulation in landfills.
  • Locally Sourced Potential: Hemp cultivation can be localized, reducing reliance on long-distance transportation and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Economic and Social Benefits:

The rise of hemp 3d-printing fosters positive economic and social impacts:

  • New Markets for Farmers: Growing demand for hemp filament creates new opportunities for farmers, boosting rural economies and providing a lucrative alternative crop.
  • Innovation and Job Creation: The development and use of hemp filament stimulate innovation in the 3D printing industry, potentially leading to new job opportunities in research, production, and application.
  • Empowering Local Businesses: The ability to 3d-print with locally sourced hemp filament opens doors for local businesses to create custom products, fostering self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on global supply chains.

Cost Considerations:

While hemp filament offers numerous advantages, cost remains a factor to consider:

  • Current Cost: Currently, hemp filament tends to be slightly more expensive than traditional options like ABS plastic. The price gap is narrowing as production scales up and demand increases.
  • Life Cycle Analysis: A holistic cost analysis should take into account the entire life cycle of the product. While the initial cost of hemp filament might be higher, its biodegradability and potential for local sourcing can translate to long-term cost savings and environmental benefits.

Financial Estimates:

Providing a definitive cost estimate for 3d-printing with hemp is challenging due to fluctuating market factors. However, a rough idea can be gleaned:

  • Hemp Filament Cost: A 1kg spool of hemp filament can range from $40 to $70, compared to $20-30 for ABS plastic.
  • Printing Costs: The printing cost itself is largely determined by the amount of filament used and printing time, which can vary depending on the complexity of the project.

A Future Woven with Hemp:

Despite the initial cost considerations, the long-term benefits of 3D printing with hemp are undeniable. This innovative approach fosters a more sustainable future, empowers local economies, and paves the way for exciting new applications across diverse industries. As research and development progress, and production scales up, the cost of hemp filament is likely to decrease, making this eco-friendly material an even more attractive option for the future of 3D printing.

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Study: “Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review”

“Hemp as a potential raw material toward a sustainable world: A review”
A T M Faiz Ahmed, Md Zahidul Islam, Md Sultan Mahmud, Md Emdad Sarker, Md Reajul Islam *
Faculty of Textile Engineering, Bangladesh University of Textiles, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ARTICLE INFO

Keywords: Bio-composites, Biofuel, Hemp paper, Hemp textiles, Hempcrete, Sustainability

ABSTRACT

Global warming as a result of climate change has become a major concern for people all over the world. It has recently drawn the attention of the entire conscious community, with the fear that if not addressed properly, it will result in the extinction of numerous species around the world. At the same time, it will pose a threat to human health, food security, living environment and standard of living. Thereby, possible solutions are being explored accordingly; regulations have been imposed in places binding green production practices, limiting the emission of CO2 and emphasis is given on renewable resources along with the search for alternatives to carbon-positive materials. Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) has received a lot of attention because of its multipurpose usability, short production cycle, low capital demand in cultivation, possibility of carbon-negative transformation and easy carbon sequestering material. This paper reviews hemp as a very promising renewable resource including its
potential uses in paper, textiles, composites, biofuel, and food industry.

Read the full paper here.

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¡Viva el cáñamo! It’s Time for Spannabis in Barcelona! (Gallery & Product Gallery)

Calling all canna-curious comrades, eco-warriors, and lovers of all things hemptastic! This weekend, Barcelona explodes with a celebration of the mighty hemp plant: Spannabis is back, baby! Get ready for a fiesta unlike any other, where sustainability meets good vibes and innovation gets high-fived by creativity.

A Hemp Heaven:

Imagine a wonderland where booths overflow with all things hemp: luscious CBD oils that promise to melt your stress away, innovative textiles that feel like a hug from Mother Nature herself, and enough hempcrete building models to inspire your next eco-friendly home project. Spannabis is a sensory smorgasbord for the hemp enthusiast!

Learn, Laugh, and Lift Your Spirits:

But Spannabis is more than just a shopping spree. This vibrant fair boasts conferences featuring industry experts dropping knowledge bombs about the latest advancements in hemp research, cultivation, and applications. There’ll be workshops where you can unleash your inner hemp artisan, learning to make your own sustainable clothing or craft some delicious hempseed snacks. And let’s not forget the entertainment! Live music, art installations, and even cooking demonstrations will keep your spirits high and your feet tapping.

A Celebration of Sustainability:

At the heart of Spannabis lies a deep respect for our planet. You’ll meet passionate growers committed to sustainable farming practices, entrepreneurs dedicated to creating eco-friendly products, and activists championing the environmental benefits of hemp. Spannabis is a celebration of a greener future, woven with hemp fibers and fueled by positive energy.

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your reusable bags, grab your most hemp-thusiastic crew, and head to Barcelona for a weekend of fun, education, and a whole lotta hemp love! ¡Nos vemos en Spannabis! (See you at Spannabis!)

We brought some pictures for you (free registration required).

Have a look at the Spannabis 2024 Gallery here.

Take a closer look at the Product Gallery here.

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Texas A&M Receives Grant for Hempcrete Material Study

A plan from Texas A&M University researchers to 3D print new resilient buildings using hempcrete has the potential to lower the environmental impact of traditional construction methods and make housing more affordable and available.

The project will be funded by a $3.74 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Harnessing Emissions into Structures Taking Inputs from the Atmosphere (HESTIA) program.

Petros Sideris, assistant professor of the Zachry department of civil and environmental engineering, will lead the project as principal investigator to develop residential and potential commercial construction designs. His team consists of Assistant Professor Maria Koliou, Department Head and Professor Zachary Grasley, Professor Anand Puppala, Associate Professor Manish Dixit and Professor Wei Yan of the Texas A&M College of Architecture.

Hempcrete is made by mixing hemp powder, fibers or shives with lime and water, creating a lightweight, green building material.

“While production of conventional construction materials such as concrete requires large amounts of energy and releases large amounts of CO2 [carbon dioxide], hempcrete is a net carbon-negative material, which can provide major environmental benefits,” Sideris said.

Sustainability will be further promoted by designing hempcrete structures more resilient to natural hazards than commonly used lightweight wood frame construction.

“Resilience to natural hazards is intertwined with environmental sustainability because building damage and subsequent repairs due to extreme events such as hurricanes result in major environmental impacts,” Sideris said.

Hempcrete has already been used globally in residential construction and prefabricated modular construction.

“Hempcrete has excellent fire resistance and thermal insulating properties that can reduce heating and cooling energy demands,” he said. “It is water-resistant and offers good acoustic properties.”

As part of the project, building designs will be printable and created to achieve structural and energy performance that will comply with modern design codes. Sideris said digital designs of printable hempcrete buildings will facilitate adoption by the construction industry.

“The advancements of this project will contribute to the U.S. maintaining its worldwide leadership in advanced construction methods and infrastructure sustainability and resilient technologies,” he said.

The funding is part of HESTIA, which prioritizes overcoming barriers associated with carbon-storing buildings, including scarce, expensive and geographically limited building materials. The HESTIA program aims to increase the total amount of carbon stored in buildings to create carbon sinks, which absorb more carbon from the atmosphere than released during construction.

TUE JULY 12, 2022 – WEST EDITION #15
TEXAS A&M
Construction Equipment Guide

 

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Hemp-Based Batteries to Be Manufactured in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Battery Company announced the acquisition of 17 acres in Portage, Wis., where it will build a new manufacturing plant to develop hemp carbon batteries as an alternative for lithium ion batteries.

Wisconsin Battery Company focuses on research, development and manufacturing of clean, renewable energy storage alternatives.

A Jan. 16 report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said the company aims to start production of batteries (for hearing aids) in 2025 and eventually ramp up to electric vehicle batteries.

The company said these hemp carbon batteries will offer improved energy density, longer lifespan, reduced environmental impact and utilize domestically produced raw material thus addressing the national security risks associated with global lithium sourcing. The plant also will focus on developing industrial batteries that enhance the efficiency and reliability of solar and wind power systems and maximize efficiency of connections to the grid.

WED FEBRUARY 28, 2024
Construction Equipment Guide