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Top 3 Applications of Nanotechnology in Construction
The construction industry will make significant strides towards providing smarter infrastructures with innovations powered by nanotechnology.
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Construction Tech Review | Tuesday, October 13, 2020
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The construction industry will make significant strides towards providing smarter infrastructures with innovations powered by nanotechnology.
FERMONT, CA: Nanotechnology's potential in the construction field is vast. The emergence of nanomaterials in the rapidly evolving construction industry has given rise to several new possibilities. The growing awareness of sustainability and the ever-increasing demand for smart buildings are central to the ongoing transformation. Buildings being built today are more energy-efficient, materials being used are eco-friendly, and the processing of raw materials is less polluting. A wide range of revolutionary nanoparticles is changing the development for the better. Nanotechnology has made inroads into a number of areas, but some of its most innovative and practical applications are targeted to the construction industry. Some of these inventions are described below and their implementations.
• Protection of Walls
Maintaining the buildings' external walls is a tough job. Although external paints offer protection, most of them are ineffective in the long run. Nano-coating is a better alternative as it provides better protection against factors such as dust and weather on the outside walls. Today, many advanced nanomaterials are used to cover the walls and make them repellant for water and dirt. The nanomaterials are extremely thin and translucent and, therefore, do not affect the appearance of the walls. A single nano-coating sheet, however, will ensure the walls are easily cleaned, ensuring that they remain attractive for years.
• Reducing Energy Dependence
Nanotechnology enables the construction of energy-efficient buildings. High energy use is considered highly unsustainable in commercial and residential buildings. Nanotechnology is one of the many steps and innovations embraced by the construction industry to reduce energy dependence. The application of advanced nanotechnology materials can affect heating, lighting, and air conditioning in buildings. By changing the properties of glass, the use of smart windows is enabled by nanotechnology. To optimize energy use, these windows can be added to houses. Also, these glasses are particularly appealing due to their easy cleaning and UV protection.
• Mitigating Pollution
It is known that the global cement industry is extremely polluting. Nanotechnology promises to improve that. It can reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the manufacture of cement by modifying the current production cycle. Therefore, the cement industry's carbon footprint will decrease.
When nanotechnology continues to develop further, smart buildings will be capable of responding to stimuli and thus achieving unimaginable functionalities.