DETON: the new concrete. An eco-friendly, carbon-free alternative

The German company DETON has developed a unique formula for a building material that is as strong as concrete but more environmentally friendly and superior in thermal insulation.

Conventional concrete uses gravel and sand as the filler and cement mortar as the binder.

In DETON, the main filler is foamed recycled glass. Its tiny pores are filled with gas, which improves the insulating properties. The binder in DETON is natural resin, and instead of reinforcing inserts it uses plant fibers. These provide thermal performance and prevent cracking. For a wall thickness of 50 centimeters, DETON insulation has a thermal conductivity of λ < 0.185 W/(m·K).

Producing DETON requires no bitumen or cement, so its CO2 emissions are 100% lower than those of conventional concrete production. In addition, DETON can be dismantled and fully reused.

By the end of 2021, several projects using DETON are planned in Germany. Its creators see the material's future in 3D printing of houses and are pursuing developments in that direction.

The DETON Group was founded in 2017 in Bonn, Germany. It develops innovative building materials and works on 3D modeling of concrete.

A patent has already been filed for the use of the DETON material in Germany, Europe, and worldwide. Approval from the German Institute for Construction Technology (Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik) is expected by 2023.

DETON Construction GmbH is currently carrying out construction projects throughout Germany as a general contractor.