Nanotechnology and nanomaterials offer interesting new opportunities in the industry of construction and architecture. For example through the development of very long-lasting, long-lived, and at the same time very lightweight construction materials. Novel covering with very good covering values are already available on the market. Authorize a thermal rehabilitation of a building in which the conventional covering is not possible. And can help to improve energy organization. For the treatment, there is a wide range of surfaces which are available, which includes wood, glass, metal, and masonry. The goal is to improve support as well as expand the lifetime of the materials. This type of surface also promises to conserve resources, for example, energy, cleaning agents, and water.
Even if the research sector has been reporting assiduously about new nanotechnological developments, the truth shows that the “nano-products” in the construction industry continue to play a lower-ranking role and currently only inhabited niche markets. The business of construction is known to be traditional and innovations often have a difficult time breaking into the market.
The main reason for this is continuous high prices. Right now, nanomaterials which are also known as nano products are still review more expensive than the conventional alternatives due to required production technology. The construction material is generally used in large amounts, with small price differences. They can extremely increase overall costs when considering the total volume of the building or other construction structure. But, the technical performance of the new products must first be exhibit.
More details about Nanotechnology :
In building, the calculated time is in the range of 20 to 30 years, making it difficult for example to apply a coating with the permanence of only 1 to 3 years. Longer-term, practical experience with many of the nano-products is still required, and we simply know too little about their product life. So, the construction industry for this time being prefers to depend on proven, conventional products. Our state of knowledge about nanotechnological applications and products, their accessibility, and their performance in the construction industry.
A survey conducted in 2009 in the European construction sector appears that most accused were unaware of whether they were working with nanoproducts or not. This is also in part because there is no mandatory labeling of nanomaterials in the building materials, add “nano” like in many other branches. They are used in advertising a product only if the manufacturers have justified hopes of improved sales.
Fields of Products and Application (Nanotechnology) :
- Cement-bound construction materials.
- Noise reduction and thermal insulation.
- Surface coatings to improve the functionality of various materials.
- Fire protection.
Environment advantages and disadvantages :
The possible environmental advantages of “nano-products” along with the possible environmental threats through nanomaterials. It has already been treated in two nano trust dossiers, so this issue will be treated here only in brief.
Environmental advantages of construction products hold nanomaterials or products based on nanotechnology. They are expected especially in the sectors of energy savings and conservation of resources. Novel insulation materials can help to reduce the energy demand for heating and cooling of residential offices and buildings. It can also be applied in cases where conventional insulation is not possible.
