From ancient wisdom to modern building materials: high-strength, low-carbon bio-mineral composites inspired by traditional architecture

Abstract

The construction industry faces an urgent need to develop sustainable alternatives to conventional energy-intensive materials such as concrete and ceramics. However, many existing alternatives are often constrained by insufficient mechanical strength, lack of recyclability, poor thermal insulation, or limited fire resistance. Drawing inspiration from historical building techniques that utilized plant fiber-mineral binder systems, this study overcomes their inherent limitations through advanced material design. We report a high-performance, low-carbon building bio-mineral composite fabricated under mild conditions by integrating a thermally induced hardening amorphous calcium carbonate mineral binder with waste wood sawdust. The synergistic interaction between these components endows the composite with outstanding mechanical properties, including a specific compressive strength of 36.87 MPa (g⁻¹ cm⁻³) and a specific compressive modulus of 10.73 GPa (g⁻¹ cm⁻³), substantially exceeding those of most conventional construction materials. Furthermore, the mineralized porous structure contributes to a UL-94 V-0 flame-retardant rating and a low thermal conductivity of 0.06 W (m⁻¹ K⁻¹). By bridging ancestral natural wisdom with modern materials science, this work not only delivers a high-performance material but also establishes a sustainable architectural pathway that “learns from yet surpasses antiquity,” offering a practical and scalable solution for greening the construction industry.