Subscribe to our Construction Newsfeed
Scotland Construction Directory
Search our 14,769 companies....

Construction News

15/08/2019

CSIC Fund Project To Transform Structural Landscape

Construction News Image
A new collaborative project funded by Construction Scotland Innovation Centre could transform the future of structural landscapes.

The curvilinear walls of the Cidade das Artes in Rio de Janeiro, the cliff face walls of Kengo Kuma's V&A Dundee, and the three sails of the Richard Meier designed Jubilee Church, just outside Rome, all have one thing in common - concrete.

Concrete structures have long been able to astonish, but their future could be brighter still thanks to a collaborative project funded by Construction Scotland Innovation Centre.

A team from the University of Dundee, along with Moock Environmental Solutions and Inverurie Precast, have come up with a way of recycling the toner powder in old printer cartridges to create a cheaper and more versatile colourant for concrete.

Led by Dr Moray Newlands, the team from the University's School of Science and Engineering say they are able to replicate colours within cement pastes and concretes in a move that could transform the look of urban environments and landmarks of the future.

Dr Moray Newlands said:"Around 10% of toner remains in a cartridge at the end of its life, so we've been looking at ways in which we can utilise it and prevent it being sent to landfill. Toner powder is incredibly fine, but cannot be recycled into new cartridges as it goes through thermal cycles and changes size once it is involved in the printing process."
-- Advertisement --
NorthernAsbestosServicesLtd



Mixing cyan, yellow, magenta and black recovered toner powder (RTP), researchers found that it was possible to produce a range of colours within concrete and cement without affecting the integrity of the finished substance. Tests showed the coloured products to be resilient in both dry and wet environments, while the colouring also proved resistant to ultraviolet light, allowing it to retain its hue over time.

While there are coloured concretes on the market, the palette range is limited by production methods and the excessive cost of producing more distinctive colours, such as blue, which requires the use of cobalt. However, the Dundee team believe that mass production using RTP would cost significantly less and allow a far greater range of tints to be manufactured. 

Another benefit of introducing RTP into the concrete structure at the beginning is the waterproofing it offers. Currently the industry standard and state-of-the-art process of waterproofing concrete uses either vapour-retarding membranes or pore blockers. Protection against the ingress and damage by chloride from de-icing salt in winter requires similar measures. Therefore the addition of the RTP would remove the need for these processes, and at no extra cost, making it a financially attractive alternative product in the precast concrete market.

Dr Newlands continued: "Inverurie Precast is producing samples which we are testing to see how they resist water and how strong they are. As engineers, the main thing we're concerned with is ensuring that the properties of the concrete remain similar or are improved by adding colour to it. If that is the case then architects will be able to use it as they wish."

Jennifer Smart, Business Relationship Manager at Construction Scotland Innovation Centre said: "This project is just one of many that demonstrates how industry and academia is working together to drive innovation, and CSIC is delighted to be supporting this exciting development. The product offers not only an environmental solution to a potential waste problem, but has the potential to reduce ongoing structure maintenance costs due to its waterproofing benefit, in addition to using colour in creative and interesting ways."

Latest Construction News

30/06/2025
The full design for the ambitious George Street and First New Town project in Edinburgh has received approval from the City of Edinburgh Council's Transport and Environment Committee. This significant milestone marks the completion of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 4 Technica
30/06/2025
What was once Europe's largest hot strip steel mill, Ravenscraig, is now poised for a transformative new chapter with plans unveiled to develop one of the UK's largest green AI data centres on the site. This ambitious proposal, put forward by Edinburgh and York-based renewable energy developer Apa
30/06/2025
Argyll and Bute Council has announced the appointment of specialist roof contractors to undertake the extensive reconstruction of Helensburgh Leisure Centre's roof. This significant step follows a detailed assessment by the council and its insurers of the severe damage inflicted by Storm Eowyn, alon
30/06/2025
The ongoing construction of a replacement wing at St Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn is serving as a unique learning opportunity, allowing students to gain valuable insights into the construction industry. The major project, which involves rebuilding a significant proportion of the school due to
30/06/2025
A significant £69 million retrofit project for two of Edinburgh's most iconic residential towers, Cables Wynd House and Linksview House, has taken a major step forward this month with the submission of a planning application by Collective Architecture. The City of Edinburgh Council's ambitious pla
30/06/2025
SSEN Transmission has formally submitted its marine cable licence application for the Spittal to Peterhead High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link, a pivotal component of the company's £20 billion "Pathway to 2030" investment programme in the north of Scotland. This submission follows two years of i
30/06/2025
The City of Edinburgh Council and CCG (Scotland) have received the prestigious 2025 Unlock Net Zero ‘Collaboration of the Year – Partnership' award, recognising their exemplary approach to delivering net zero homes. The award celebrates their work on Western Villages, Scotland's largest 'net zero
30/06/2025
Lost Shore Surf Resort, Scotland's premier inland surf destination, has scooped a prestigious GOLD Design Innovation Award at the recent Scottish Design Awards. The accolade recognises the resort's exceptional design, with mechanical and electrical (M&E) services provider Arc-Tech (Scotland) playi
30/06/2025
Clark Contracts has officially completed the £2 million refurbishment of Edinburgh's beloved Filmhouse cinema, which reopened its doors to the public on Friday, 27 June 2025. The completion marks a significant moment for the cultural landmark, which had been closed for nearly three years following t
30/06/2025
Demolition work on the concrete structures at the former coal store site in Cockenzie is set to commence today, Monday, 30 June 2025. This phase, part of the wider Cockenzie enabling works, is anticipated to last for 20 weeks. While some noise is inevitable, strict time limits and mitigation measu
K & I Paterson LtdForde Training Services LtdPlant Glazing LtdThe Water PointCRGP LimitedM&C McLean LtdStoneCleanScotland.co.ukDunedin Stone LtdSEEIT3DLogical Insulation Solutions Limited