Harnessing Nanotechnology for Superior Building Construction

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There are many applications for nanotechnology in building construction. Nanotechnology has given a new dimension for each construction material with amazing properties. For example, synthetic silicic acid (nanosilica) is used as an additive in sprayed and high-performance concrete to improve tensile and shear strength between concrete and reinforcing steel. Nano thin multilayer coating of conducting polymers improves protection against corrosion when using carbon steel or stainless steel as a construction material for beams and columns. Corrosion inhibitor coatings for roofing, self cleaning coatings for glass, nanoporous aerogel materials as insulation materials, UV adsorbing nanoparticles, nanofiltration and light activated nanoparticles are also available.

Thermal insulation and additives

Thermal insulation for buildings, the use of invisible nanosilver coating for windows to get transparent thermal insulation, in façade design by providing self-cleaning, anti-graffiti protection or high scratch and wear resistance in plastics through appropriate coatings and use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles as additives in the interior coatings to protect from discoloration under interior and external light. Nanomaterials are used for self-healing concrete, flexible solar panels, as a paint for blocking wi-fi, ultraviolet and infrared radiation, smog-eating coatings, light-emitting walls and ceilings, nanodyes, nanoadditives for paints, silver nanoparticles or light activated nanoparticles as antibacterial household items, nanoparticles or nanoclays as fire retardant, surface nanostructures to give easy clean surfaces, water treatment systems and nanopigments for giving UV stability of polymers. Nanotech-enabled sensors can be used to monitor temperature, humidity, and airborne toxins which needs nanotech based improved batteries. The building components can be made intelligent and interactive by the use of sensor wireless components and collect a wide range of data.

Seismic wallpaper

An intelligent composite “seismic wallpaper” has been developed for the reinforcement, strengthening, monitoring and management of civil infrastructure vulnerable to earthquakes. The composite seismic wallpaper consists of fiber-optic sensors, multiaxial, warpknitted glass and polymer fibers, nanoparticle-enhanced coatings for the textile fabric and nanoparticle-enhanced mortar to bond the textile to the structure. The specific nanoparticle-enhanced polymer coatings were produced to apply to a structure using a mortar compound. This mortar compound is also enhanced by nanoparticle polymer additives.

Risks

Nanoparticles may also enter the human body of if building when water supplies are filtered through commercially available nanofilters. Airborne and waterborne nanoparticles can enter from building ventilation and wastewater systems. Use of sensors can create loss of privacy when users are made to interact with increasingly intelligent building components and can infuse a fear of risk from these materials. However, the major opinion is that overall performance of nanomaterials is a valuable opportunity to improve building performance, user health and environmental quality. But, once discarded, these materials become potent source of uncontrollable particles, which may pose a health risk to the population living close to the area where they were dumped, but there are also methods to recycle or reuse rather than thrown away.