- Title: HUNGARY: Hungarian inventor reveals transluscent concrete
- Date: 3rd November 2009
- Summary: CSONGRAD, HUNGARY (OCTOBER 28, 2009) (REUTERS) COURTYARD OF WORKSHOP WITH NEW LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE BLOCK STANDING READY FOR TRANSPORT FOR LAUNCH BLOCK OF TRANSLUCENT CONCRETE LIGHT COMING THROUGH CONCRETE INVENTOR ARON LOSONCZI SHOWING CONCRETE AND TALKING WITH REPORTER SHADOW OF HANDS OF LOSONCZI AND REPORTER SEEN THROUGH CONCRETE LOSONCZI AND REPORTER TALKING SHADOW OF LOSONCZI AND REPORTER SEEN THROUGH CONCRETE SHADOW OF LOSONCZI TALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) INVENTOR, ARON LOSONCZI, SAYING: "The first version was born in 2001 using optical fibres to make the concrete transparent. This new product is a further developed version based on the same principle. But what we have here is a completely different technical solution that is not visible from outside and it is a wholly innovative step even in comparison to the first version." EXTERIOR OF THE WORKSHOP WORKER PUTTING BLOCK OF LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE IN FRONT OF STRONG LIGHT PLACING BLOCK OF LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE IN FRONT OF LIGHT LOSONCZI LOOKING AT LIGHT AND CONCRETE LIGHT COMING THROUGH CONCRETE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURE OF WORKER PUTTING HIS HAND BEHIND CONCRETE SHADOW OF HAND SEEN THROUGH CONCRETE IN RED LIGHT LOSONCZI LOOKING AT CONCRETE IN RED LIGHT/ LIGHT COMING THROUGH CONCRETE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) INVENTOR, ARON LOSONCZI SAYING: "Our old product can be manufactured in relatively small sizes so they're suited for smaller structures. This new product can be made in large sizes as high as a wall, so you can imagine that for instance one dividing wall could be built of one or two blocks." HAND SEEN THROUGH OPTICAL FIBRE LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE WORKER PUTTING HIS HAND BEHIND CONCRETE LIGHT COMING THROUGH OPTICAL FIBRE LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) INVENTOR, ARON LOSONCZI SAYING: "This new version does not replace the optical fibre version because these are two different materials from an aesthetic point of view as well. The older version is a kind of premium category, and this one is a medium category one." VARIOUS OF WORKER POLISHING BLOCK OF CONCRETE (4 SHOTS) (SOUNDBITE) (Hungarian) INVENTOR, ARON LOSONCZI SAYING: "Thank god we won the legal debate in Germany in 2008 so now we have both version A and B, so it was a lucky thing. We hope we will have a C version too and carry on with A, B and C." RED LIGHT THROUGH LIGHT TRANSMITTING CONCRETE WORKER PUTTING HIS HAND BEHIND CONCRETE HAND MOVING BEHIND CONCRETE
- Embargoed: 18th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Hungary
- Country: Hungary
- Topics: Science / Technology,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAF1YX32715CIHBUW9UFYG1OMCS
- Story Text: Hungarian inventor reveals a new technique of embedding fibre optic cables into concrete to allow the transmission of light through the material without affecting its strength.
The Hungarian inventor, Aron Losonczi, has revealed his latest creation, light transmitting concrete, or Litracon. It is a new construction material that transmits light through built-in optical fibres but preserves the constructional features of the concrete. The novelty is the blend of two opposing characteristics of weight and light, in one material.
Losonczi's new version of Litracon called Litracon PXL uses plastic fibres instead of glass, making it cheaper and more widely affordable.
"The first version was born in 2001 using optical fibres to make the concrete transparent. This new product is a further developed version based on the same principle. But what we have here is a completely different technical solution that is not visible from outside and it is a wholly innovative step even in comparison to the first version," Losonczi said ahead of the launch.
The original Litracon is a combination of optical fibres and fine concrete. It can be produced as prefabricated building blocks and panels.
The new Litracon version uses a specially-treated plastic fibre that transmits light. One of the main differences between the two versions is that the new one is much cheaper and can be used in bigger blocks.
"Our old product can be manufactured in relatively small sizes so they're suited for smaller structures. This new product can be made in large sizes as high as a wall, so you can imagine that for instance one dividing wall could be built of one or two blocks," Losonczi said.
Litracon is already used across the world from Japan to the US in various buildings and offices and Losonczi hopes the new, cheaper version will be even more widely used.
"This new version does not replace the optical fibre version because these are two different materials from an aesthetic point of view as well. The older version is a kind of premium category, and this one is a medium category one," he added.
In the original version the glass fibres lead light by points between the two sides of the blocks. Because of their parallel position, the light-information on the brighter side of such a wall appears unchanged on the darker side.
Losonczi came by the idea of the light transmitting concrete while doing post-graduate architecture studies in Sweden. He investigated ways of combining light and concrete in construction. He patented his idea but as his invention became known he soon faced legal battles with a multi-national company in Germany that began producing similar material using Losonczi's invention.
As the legal battle was going on, Losonczi thought he'd ensure his position by creating a new version in the meantime in case he lost his first patent. Eventually he won, but also came up with a new version too.
"Thank god we won the legal debate in Germany in 2008 so now we have both version A and B, so it was a lucky thing. We hope we will have a C version too and carry on with A, B and C," Losonczi said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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