In 2023 a leadENG-project was launched focusing on sustainable building materials. The project took a special interest in clay. Two students from the Institute of Chemistry and Bioscience chose to continue working on the project in their thesis attempting to incorporate recyclable materials such as composite, glass fibers and glass wool in the production of bricks. This serves several purposes, such as: 

• clay is a limited resource.
• the materials are difficult to recycle for other purposes.
• bricks with a greater content of glass may burn at lower temperatures, lessening CO2 emissions. 

Therefore, the project contributes to solving problems within sustainable production of building materials and reduction of carbon footprint by focusing on the application of recyclable materials and optimising the manufacturing process. 

Students collaborate on bricks
In the project, the students are working with both the production of bricks with different contents of recyclable materials and the assessment of the bricks. The bricks are measured, tested, separated and broken down to gain insight into their strength, porosity and absorptive ability. A large part of the testing is done in collaboration with the Department of the Built Environment. In addition, the students also work together with the Department of Materials and Productions on their scanning electron microscope (SEM), which can be used to further research the structure of the bricks. The students are happy with this interdisciplinary collaboration: 

“One can clearly tell that they have some knowledge, and that said knowledge is useful. It would have taken us a long time if we were to research this ourselves” - Frederik Riber Bruun. 

“I also think it’s a good thing. It gives us other impressions that we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise” - Andreas Svenning Andersen. 

A part of ReMaBrick 
The project is a part of ReMaBrick and is done in collaboration with the company Gråsten Teglværk and researchers from Aarhus University and the J. Stefans Institute in Slovenia. Gråsten Teglværk are requesting new products for interior walls as well as exterior walls for tall buildings. The thesis students are working to test and examine the connections between various material compositions and potentials. The corporate collaboration serves as a motivational factor for the two students. 

“I think it’s really cool, the fact that it’s for a company. You can feel that you’re at least on your way to making an impact in the real world in some way” - Frederik Riber Bruun. 
 
A piece of advice 
LeadENG-projects are built around Aalborg University’s problem-based learning model. The projects provide the students with experience in solving real world problems with the inclusion of various disciplines. The students acquire valuable experience from participating in interdisciplinary teams and, when asked, the students specifically highlight this as one of the skills they’ll be taking with them in their further endeavors. 

“Learning to work together with other people from different branches. Learning to form a team. This is very important” - Frederik Riber Bruun 

The two thesis students recommend that others participate in LeadENG projects as well. 

“I think that there are only benefits to it. If it’s something that you can in one way or another gain knowledge from as well as contacts, for example from other faculties. If that is a possibility, then I think you should definitely go for it. It may seem like a challenge to have to work together with other faculties, but I think it has only been a bonus” - Andreas Svenning Andersen.