Israel creates "super ice" for construction in the Arctic and Antarctic

Israeli scientists have developed BioPykrete, an ice-based material as strong as concrete. It is 10 times stronger than regular ice under compression and absorbs 70 times more energy before breaking. The innovation could simplify construction in polar regions by reducing the volume of cargo that needs to be shipped.

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led by Professor Ido Braslavsky, have developed BioPykrete, a composite ice-based material with strength approaching that of concrete. It is 10 times stronger than regular ice under compression and can absorb 70 times more energy before fracturing. A key difference from ordinary ice is its resistance to sudden cracking: cracks stop or change direction thanks to a three-dimensional network of cellulose nanocrystals. A specially designed artificial protein acts as a molecular glue, bonding ice and cellulose, doubling strength and energy absorption compared to standard ice-cellulose mixtures. The study was published in the journal Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. The development could ease construction in the Arctic and Antarctic, where shipping building materials involves complex logistics. An example cited is the construction of a pier at the British Rothera Station in 2018-2020, which required transporting 4,500 tons of materials over 11,000 km from the UK. BioPykrete is considered an eco-friendly, biodegradable material, but it is still at the proof-of-concept stage. Tests on long-term loads and freeze-thaw cycles are pending.