TU Graz researchers develop 3D-printed ceramic cooling technology

Researchers at TU Graz have developed a cooling technology using 3D-printed, highly porous ceramic cubes designed to reduce temperatures in both indoor and outdoor environments. By utilizing the principle of evaporative cooling, the structures absorb water and release it slowly, effectively removing heat from the surrounding air.

The ceramic material is created using a specialized process where wood chips and mushroom cultures (mycelium) are added to the clay mixture before printing and firing. This creates a network of micro and macro-pores that allows for efficient water distribution and a high evaporation surface area.

In experimental tests conducted in an attic, researchers measured a temperature reduction of nearly seven degrees Celsius directly at the surface of the elements. The project is now moving from material testing to the development of a wall prototype, with a large-scale wall currently being tested on the Neue Technik campus in Graz.