Research partnership will create low carbon building material

A three year partnership between Aston University and Jesmonite Ltd will see the company develop new, low carbon cladding materials which can mimic any type of traditional building surface. 

This will be based on biochar, a charcoal like natural product made from burning biomass such as wood, agricultural waste or animal manure in a low oxygen environment.

The Shropshire company exports its Jesmonite materials worldwide, for use by artists, architects and designers for everything from jewellery to ornaments and architectural features.

The materials are made from a mineral powder and water based resin which can be made in any colour or texture. As they are light, strong and durable they have been used for recreating buildings on film sets and theme parks.

The company has decided to move into low carbon construction for real homes and has agreed a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Aston University. The project is designed to develop a more sustainable alternative to the cement used in its materials, to support the construction sector’s transition to net zero.

The project will involve biochar and sustainable materials researchers from across the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and the Department of Civil Engineering.  

Working closely with the company, they will redevelop Jesmonite materials in ways that reduce their carbon footprint. 

Professor Mujib Rahman from Department of Civil Engineering, said: ‘This project fits perfectly with our research and the specialist facilities here at Aston University, both in the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute and in civil engineering. To be able to support a leading UK company like Jesmonite to move towards low carbon products is incredibly rewarding, putting our expertise in sustainable construction materials into real world application.’

Piran Littleton, managing director at Jesmonite Ltd, said: ‘This Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) gives us a unique opportunity to access specialist facilities and research expertise at Aston, to look at our materials at a molecular level and really understand the processes involved. We are a small company, producing a high end product, but the KTP will allow us to open up a wider marketplace across the construction section, which is a very exciting prospect.’

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, funded by Innovate UK, are collaborative projects that bring together a business, an academic partner, and a qualified associate to deliver strategic innovation and business improvement. Aston University is a national leader in the programme, ranked joint first in the UK for volume of active projects and first for overall project quality.