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Concrete Casts New Light in Dull Rooms

Posted by michael on from the no-wallpaper-please dept.

opticsorg writes "Stuck for decorating ideas? Then the light-transmitting concrete that is set to hit the market this year is what you could be looking for! The days of dull, grey concrete could be about to end. A Hungarian architect has combined the world's most popular building material with optical fiber from Schott to create a new type of concrete that transmits light. A wall made of 'LitraCon' allegedly has the strength of traditional concrete but thanks to an embedded array of glass fibers can display a view of the outside world, such as the silhouette of a tree, for example."

5 of 78 comments (clear)

  1. And the reverse? by bolix · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't see mention of being able to see internal objects? If the lightsource inside is stronger (nighttime), you may get the shadow puppet effect all around your house!

    What about paint? You know anyone that wants gray walls in their house?

    1. Re:And the reverse? by russellh · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You're right. It is almost certain that the outside world should be able to see your "shadow puppet" at night.

      Well it wouldn't be used for a house here on the US east coast. Not a lot of people live in bare concrete houses - if only because it's too cold.

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  2. And then come the disclaimers about the uses by RCO · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Do not use around public restrooms, unless you want a truly public restroom.

    Although, this is one step closer to the transparent aluminum from star trek. Are we sure he didn't get the idea while in San Fran, possibly out there for a wedding or something??

    --
    'And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo Every day you meet quite a few...'
  3. Re:Cool! by p4ul13 · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I didn't find mention of it on the site, so I'm wondering if they have a special approach in mind for cementing the blocks together. When you cement them together to form a wall, you'd end up with a brick pattern obscuring the image that is showing through.

    That could either detract from or enhance the "coolness" factor depending on what look you were going for I suppose.

    --
    Paul Lenhart writes words!
  4. Breakage/Stress detectors? by quinkin · · Score: 2, Insightful
    I remember seeing an optic fibre array that was used to detect curvature and provided early detection of micro-fractures. From memory it used "circular scored" optic fibres for the measurement section and measured the diffraction(?) of the resultant light.

    It seems that this could be a big "value add" for embedded concrete - Having a realtime stress diagram of a building would be invaluable in some locales (san fran, kobe, etc).

    Q. (In the quest for proof of prior art).

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