A fabric that hardens like concrete after it's soaked in water could provide emergency housing around the world.
Concrete Cloth has been developed over the past three years by British company Concrete Canvas Ltd.
The firm tested the cloth in Uganda “visiting camps in the field and interviewing refugees and 22 UN Agencies and NGOs over a five-week period”. The company also trialled the cloth in New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
The cloth contains a formula of dry concrete which, when water is added, allows the fabric to remain flexible for two hours before setting rapidly. The company explains: “A PVC backing on one surface of the cloth ensures the material is waterproof. Hydrophilic fibres on the opposite surface aid hydration by drawing water into the cement.”
The cloth is claimed to be heat resistant up to high temperatures, but also suitable for settings where there are chemicals present, including use in agricultural environments, industrial applications and drainage systems. It will even set under water, the company says.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
