Pykrete

Pykrete is a composite material consisting of approximately 14 percent sawdust or some other form of fine wood fibers (such as paper) and 86 percent by weight of water ice. Its use was being considered, among others, during the Second World War by the British Royal Navy to build the unsinkable aircraft carrier Habbakuk ( in Canada was consequently a buoyant model Pykrete with wood paneling built that after the abandonment of the project in the last years of the war nor three summers on a lake supernatant). Pykrete has a remarkably low rate of melting due to its low thermal conductivity, combined with improved material properties compared to pure water ice, which are close to that of concrete.

Origin of the name

( Had the material did not invent, but its practical use propagated ) The term Pykrete is an art word Compositum from the name of Geoffrey Pyke, and the English name for concrete Concrete.