Peat oil shale ash composite

The material originated from the idea of Jüri Liiv, a researcher at the University of Tartu, to combine peat and oil shale ash as a building material. The acidic peat and the strongly alkaline oil shale ash neutralize each other’s pH level, and the humates contained in the peat react with the heavy metals in the ash. Natural fibers have been added to the elliptical anisotropic building blocks developed by Märten Peterson. Combining the blocks at different angles ensures different fiber distribution and structural strength. In a cross­section, the wall is similar to a thermoprofile — sheared joints extend the transfer of heat through the structure. The solution described above is physically feasible with the help of robots.