Papercrete Flame Test

A papercrete block made from one part cement and one part paper is subjected to a 5 minute propane flame. A wood 2x4 is given the same flame for comparison.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• papercrete
• propane
• mikey sklar
• green acre
• truth
• or
• consequences

[aiacopino]

I wonder if there is any alternative to the use of cement or concrete to hold the paper together... any thoughts?

[sklarm]

@aiacopino clay or lime can be used.

[krisofamericas]

How does the papercrete block hod up to water? I'm just wondering if papercrete is only for dry climates or will it hold up to snowy winters or rainy seasons.

[sklarm]

@krisofamericas it's fine in dry climates ( < 10" of rain a year). I would not recommend it for a wet location.

[TheKingdomofErnor]

paper is biodegradable, has literally no negative effect on the environment

obtaining the paper (cutting down trees) also has 0 negative effect on the environment, since all trees which are cut down are part of tree-farms

virgin wood isn't cut down in the US anymore

[sklarm]

How about recycling pulp? That seems to have severe consequences due to transportation across state lines, chemical usage, water/air pollution.

It is recycling scam that is the real problem.

[usmartine]

Cob homes are made with only clay, sand, straw and water. Paper can be recycled but we will not run out of dirt!

[NoirMusic]

How is it enviromentally friendly to use a product that requires mining, heavy machinery etc...?

[aiacopino]

Thank you sklarm.... I checked other people's sites and I saw some with adobe and lime that are very appealing to me. Thanks again.

[fookingsoc]

When you have a flammable material, paper fibers in this instance, encapsulated in a non-flammable materiel, which is the concrete, you have a self-extinguishing building material. The reason for this is, is that the fuel which is the paper/wood fibers is not available quickly enough to keep the combustion temperature up and therefore starves itself....Great Work!

[dodgedart74]

businessman gone construction worker, cause 1 joint.. fail

[YiuTeub]

put wood near flame tip and try again.

[circusgirlee]

This would have been a better test if you had used the flatof the 2x4. However, your point that papercrete won't just go up in smoke is well illustrated. As to "TheKingdomofErnor"'s assertion that paper has no negative effect on the environment, that is wildly incorrect. There are two major problems with it. First, harsh chemicals are used to process pulp and second tree farms are not forests, but would otherwise be so. Keep going with the papercrete - love it!

[poosaypirate]

@NoirMusic LOL desperate