Hempcrete Materials Research - (Piovesan)

Hempcrete Materials Research - (Piovesan)

As a student research assistant on this Pennsylvania Manufacturing Innovation-funded project, you will participate in the development and characterization of hempcrete and hemp-based construction materials intended for use under demanding thermal and environmental conditions.

The research will focus on understanding how the physical characteristics of hemp, material formulation, moisture absorption, and exposure to elevated temperatures affect hempcrete performance. Students will prepare experimental specimens, characterize hemp feedstocks, conduct controlled thermal and moisture testing, analyze experimental data, and assist in identifying material combinations that provide improved resistance to heat while maintaining desirable water-absorption and insulation characteristics.

This interdisciplinary project combines materials science, sustainable construction, thermal sciences, manufacturing, and experimental engineering. Students will gain hands-on experience with sustainable building materials and may contribute to technical reports, conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and potentially patentable innovations.

Career Readiness Learning Objectives

• Critical Thinking – Student researchers will review scientific and technical literature, identify relevant material parameters, develop test methods, analyze experimental results, compare alternative hempcrete formulations, and determine which material characteristics most strongly influence thermal and moisture performance.
• Communication – Student researchers will develop technical writing and presentation skills by maintaining laboratory documentation, preparing figures and data summaries, contributing to project reports and manuscripts, and presenting results during project meetings and research events.
• Teamwork – Students will work as part of an interdisciplinary research team involving engineering, science, manufacturing, and sustainable-materials applications.

Students may also be expected to present findings from their work at Celebrate Gannon or another appropriate undergraduate research venue.

Key Responsibilities

• Hemp Feedstock Characterization

• Characterize hemp hurd and other hemp-based raw materials used in hempcrete formulations.

• Evaluate characteristics such as particle size, particle-size distribution, bulk density, moisture content, morphology, and water absorption.

• Investigate how hemp source, particle dimensions, processing, and preparation affect material performance.

• Prepare and document hemp samples using controlled drying, conditioning, screening, or other preprocessing methods.

• Assist in identifying hemp characteristics associated with improved thermal resistance and moisture-management properties.

• Hempcrete Formulation and Specimen Preparation

• Prepare hempcrete specimens using controlled combinations of hemp, binder, additives, and water.

• Investigate the effects of hemp-to-binder ratio, water-to-binder ratio, material density, compaction, particle size, and other formulation parameters.

• Fabricate specimens using standardized molds and repeatable laboratory procedures.

• Measure specimen mass, dimensions, density, curing conditions, and other relevant physical properties.

• Maintain accurate records of material batches and specimen preparation conditions.

• High-Temperature Testing

• Assist with controlled exposure of hempcrete specimens to elevated temperatures.

• Study how temperature and exposure duration affect hempcrete structure and material properties.

• Record specimen temperatures using thermocouples, infrared measurement systems, or other appropriate instrumentation.

• Evaluate dimensional changes, mass loss, cracking, discoloration, degradation, and other observable effects following thermal exposure.

• Compare the thermal response of different hempcrete formulations and hemp feedstocks.

• Assist in determining which formulations retain desirable characteristics after high-temperature exposure.

• Moisture and Water-Absorption Testing

• Measure water uptake and moisture absorption of hemp and hempcrete specimens.

• Perform controlled immersion, humidity-conditioning, drying, and gravimetric experiments.

• Develop moisture-absorption curves and compare absorption and drying behavior among different formulations.

• Investigate relationships between hemp characteristics, material porosity, density, and water retention.

• Evaluate formulations intended to provide increased water absorption or moisture-buffering capacity while maintaining acceptable structural integrity.

• Thermal and Physical Characterization

• Assist in measuring thermal conductivity, temperature gradients, heating and cooling response, or related thermal properties where appropriate.

• Evaluate density, dimensional stability, and basic mechanical integrity of specimens before and after thermal or moisture exposure.

• Compare experimental results among formulations and identify relationships between material composition and performance.

• Assist in developing experimental procedures and test fixtures as needed.

• Experimental Design and Data Analysis

• Organize experimental datasets using spreadsheets or engineering-analysis software.

• Calculate material properties and summarize results using tables, plots, and statistical comparisons.

• Assist in designing experiments to determine the effects of multiple material variables.

• Identify trends linking hemp characteristics and hempcrete formulation to temperature resistance and water absorption.

• Compare experimental findings with published research and relevant technical literature.

• Laboratory and Safety Responsibilities

• Follow laboratory safety procedures when operating ovens, furnaces, heating equipment, cutting tools, mixers, instrumentation, and other laboratory equipment.

• Use appropriate personal protective equipment.

• Maintain clean and organized laboratory work areas.

• Properly label, store, and document experimental materials and specimens.

• Work under faculty supervision when conducting elevated-temperature experiments.

• Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and electronic experimental records.

• Photograph and document specimens before and after testing.

• Prepare graphs, tables, photographs, and technical summaries.

• Participate in regular project meetings.

• Contribute to progress reports, technical reports, conference presentations, manuscripts, and other project deliverables.

• Present research findings internally and, when appropriate, at external research events.

Benefits

• Gain applied research experience in sustainable construction materials and advanced manufacturing.

• Develop hands-on experience with hempcrete and bio-based composite materials.

• Learn laboratory techniques for thermal, moisture, and materials characterization.

• Gain experience in experimental design and engineering data analysis.

• Develop skills applicable to careers in materials engineering, manufacturing, construction, sustainability, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and product development.

• Participate in interdisciplinary research involving engineering and science.

• Potentially contribute to publications, presentations, technical reports, and intellectual-property development.

• Prior experience with hempcrete is not required.

• Required Qualifications

• Interest in sustainable materials, engineering, manufacturing, construction materials, or experimental research.

• Willingness to perform hands-on laboratory work.

• Ability to follow written experimental and safety procedures.

• Ability to accurately document experimental activities and results.

• Willingness to work independently and as part of a research team.

• Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or experience in heat transfer, thermodynamics, materials science, chemistry, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, manufacturing, or related fields.

• Familiarity with laboratory testing or experimental methods.

• Experience with Microsoft Excel, MATLAB, Python, or similar data-analysis tools.

• Familiarity with CAD, fabrication, or experimental fixture design.

• Experience using temperature sensors, data-acquisition equipment, laboratory ovens, or materials-testing equipment.

• Strong organizational and technical documentation skills.

• Physical Demands

• The position involves la