Emissions from cement industries are a major threat for the environment and companies are exploring various sustainable avenues for the same such as use of sustainable alternative raw materials, use of CO2 for curing, carbon capture techniques and more.
While these technologies focus on alterations within the cement industry, a technology has emerged that completely replaces cement and concrete for building applications. Called cross laminated timber, the wood material is widely explored by construction companies in recent years.
While timber has been long known for its use in furniture and other wood related materials, scientists say it could be a potential alternative to cement and concrete.
To create CLT, lumber boards that have been trimmed and kiln-dried are glued atop one another in layers, crosswise, with the grain of each layer facing against the grain of the layer adjacent. Stacking boards together this way can create large slabs, up to a foot thick and as large as 18-feet-long by 98-feet-wide.
Slabs of wood this large can match or exceed the performance of concrete and steel. CLT can be used to make floors, walls, ceilings — entire buildings.
01-01-2020
Source: Vaagen Brothers, Katerra
01-11-2019
Source: Katerra
01-06-2017
Source: Structulam Mass Timber Corporation
01-01-2021
Source: Wolff Co., Katerra
01-04-2021
Source: Powerhouse Company
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