Researchers 3D-print ceramic cubes that cool attics without electricity

A team in Austria is using 3D printing for something far removed from hobby trinkets: cooling overheated indoor areas. The researchers relied on ceramic cubes to reduce heat without using electricity.

According to SlashGear, scientists at Graz University of Technology created 3D-printed clay forms that cool air by tapping into evaporative cooling, a method with deep historical roots.

Here's what to know

Researchers at TU Graz's Institute of Architecture and Media made the cubes from porous ceramic so they can take in water and release it gradually as it evaporates.

That evaporation removes heat from the surrounding air, producing a cooling effect without fans, refrigerants, or electricity-intensive air-conditioning systems.

The cubes are fairly small, measuring just over 9 inches, or about 23 centimeters, on each side. Despite that size, the goal was to maximize surface area with minimal material.

During a test in a hot attic, one water-filled cube lowered the nearby air temperature by almost 13 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius). A team member said the difference was "clearly noticeable throughout the room."

More background

What makes the project notable is the combination of a long-used cooling concept with newer manufacturing methods.

Milena Stavric, a member of the research team, highlighted the long-standing use of clay jugs and related objects to cool spaces through evaporation.

Using 3D printing, the researchers can form clay shapes that would be hard to make with conventional techniques. Stavric said this lets the team create cubes with "an enormous evaporation surface," which helps account for the measurable cooling from such a compact object.

A material that can passively cool without electricity could reduce energy demand, especially in places like attics, where heat tends to build up and raise indoor temperatures.

What's being done?

The idea is still being studied and is not yet something most households can simply adopt. The researchers used additive manufacturing designed for ceramics rather than the plastic-based printers commonly used by consumers for small home items.

The team wants to go beyond individual cubes, try other materials, and study whether comparable cooling forms could one day be integrated into walls or other building components.

If that becomes possible, passive cooling could be incorporated into buildings themselves instead of leaving all temperature control to standard cooling equipment.

A team member said the cooling effect from the attic test was "clearly noticeable throughout the room."

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