GoKawiilScientists engineer 'BioPykrete' ice reinforced with cellulose and protein glue
Researchers created a reinforced ice material called BioPykrete by combining ice with cellulose nanocrystals and a custom-designed protein, CBM3a-AFPIII, that bonds the two together. In small-scale laboratory tests, the composite proved roughly 10 times stronger than ordinary ice and absorbed 70 times more energy before fracturing. The study was published in the journal Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces.
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The researchers suggest that refining the protein variants and freezing methods could push the material's strength even higher, though this remains a goal rather than a demonstrated result. If scaled successfully, such ice-based composites could offer a cheap, renewable alternative to materials like concrete for construction or packaging in extreme cold environments. Further work on how cracks propagate through the material will be needed to confirm the scientists' proposed explanation for its strength.
- BioPykrete combines ice, cellulose nanocrystals, and a custom protein binder.
- Lab tests show it is about 10x stronger and 70x tougher than plain ice.
- Researchers aim to further optimize the material for extreme-environment construction uses.
Source: science.slashdot.org, 2026-10-13
Published there as: “A New 'Super Ice' Is 10 Times Stronger, Bringing It Close to The Strength of Concrete”
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