3D-Printed Cooling Walls

TU Graz Uses Porous Ceramics for Passive Evaporative Cooling

3D-printed cooling walls are offering an energy-efficient approach to reducing temperatures in buildings and urban environments. Researchers at TU Graz developed porous ceramic cubes that combine additive manufacturing with evaporative cooling, a process in which water absorbs surrounding heat as it evaporates. Complex printed geometries maximize surface area and distribute water throughout the ceramic, helping the structures provide continuous passive cooling. During testing in a hot attic, a water-filled cube lowered the temperature in its immediate surroundings by almost seven degrees Celsius.

The concept demonstrates how architecture can incorporate passive cooling directly into building materials rather than relying exclusively on energy-intensive air conditioning. For construction companies, architects and municipalities, these systems could create opportunities for lower-energy cooling in homes, offices, schools and public spaces. 3D printing also enables customized structures and alternative material blends, potentially supporting more resource-efficient approaches to heat-resilient urban development.

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