We may be used to hearing Honeywell in the aerospace AM industry but the company’s capabilities and solutions can be seen in other vertical industries. A recent partnership with construction 3D printing company Mighty Buildings shows that Honeywell Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) will be a key component in the material the construction startup uses to 3D print houses.
Simply put, that LBA solution is just insulation. It helps to replace traditional foam insulation, while reducing emissions and delivering energy-efficient building panels.
Honeywell has invested over $1 billion in research, development and the creation of new capacity for its Solstice® technology. Its applications can be seen in refrigerants, blowing agents, aerosols and solvents, and moving forward, could be seen in metered dose inhalers.
A collaboration that aligns with the energy transition
According to the UN Environment Programme report, the building industry is responsible for 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With Solstice® LBA, 3D-printed homes can be built with near-zero waste and in a quicker timeframe than conventional construction techniques. As a matter of fact, the Global Warming Potential of Honeywell’s Solstice® LBA is 99.9% lower than other blowing agents commonly used during construction.
“When used with our patented 3D-printing technology, Solstice® LBA will enable us to build comfortable and climate-resistant housing,” said Scott Gebicke, CEO, Mighty Buildings. “The construction industry needs fast, safe and reliable alternatives to traditional building materials. By incorporating Solstice® into our production process, we can further enhance the performance and sustainability of our 3D-printed products while reducing the construction industry’s overall carbon footprint.”
Production and home insulation
The 3D-printed panels developed using Solstice® LBA will be manufactured at Mighty Buildings’ production facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The facility currently can print enough panels for two homes per day. Mighty Buildings’ total construction time for a 3D-printed home is often less than a week. Once complete, these homes require less energy for heating and cooling than those built with other commonly used blowing agents due to Solstice® LBA’s ability to provide better thermal insulation.
The Environmental Protection Agency has listed Honeywell Solstice® LBA in their Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, an initiative that promotes the development and adoption of alternatives to ozone-depleting materials.
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