Patent ID: 8414816
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a building block comprising the steps of: a) providing a mass of straw stalks having naturally occurring binding agents; b) shaping the mass of straw stalks in a compressor having compressing walls by heating the mass of straw stalks under pressure in the presence of an added binding agent to form a building block that is vertically stackable for forming a load-bearing wall, said building block having at least one rigid and planar wall; and (c) forming at least one through-hole in the building block, the building block characterized as further including: wherein during the shaping step, a plurality of the straw stalks bind to each other by way of the naturally occurring binding agents and by the added binding agent, wherein the first wall, second wall, and the intermediate block portion are formed from said mass of straw stalks, and wherein the heat and the pressure are applied by said compressing walls at a temperature of about 175-425° F. and at a pressure in the range of 1250-2000 psi for approximately 20-30 minutes so that a localized density gradient arises within the block, said localized density gradient generating said first and second walls.