Materials that want to change the architecture
The long-awaited and anticipated revolution in construction is gaining momentum. Now we have drones, BIM, virtual reality, augmented reality, automatic project management and more. But this does not end here! Researchers and various institutes are taking technology to the next level in developing new Construction materials innovative.
Although we already discussed the properties and types of insulating materials with some excellent guidance documents. Now it's time to see the materials for architecture that could revolutionize the construction sector.
1.- Improve thermal insulation with cement that conducts electricity
Throughout history, both cement and concrete have been constantly studied. Always trying to provide new properties that affect its sustainability, thermal insulation, impermeability, etc.
From MIT, the investigations of the CNRS department (Center for Concrete Sustainability) are giving surprising results.
This time, with the incorporation of black "nanocarbon" particles they have managed to obtain a cement that conducts electricity.
What is it for? The conductivity of electrons will allow concrete to be used for a number of new applications, from self heating to provide a better thermal insulation in installations with sate system or even the possible energy storage to save on heating, crazy!
"Concrete is naturally an insulating material", according to the director of the Soliman project, "but when we add nanocarbon particles, it becomes an insulator and, in addition, a conductive material".
2.- Transparent wood and super wood
Now we have a new way of understanding and using the noblest material on Earth, wood. Thanks to technology, it has gone to a higher level of innovation; the translucent wood which can be used to develop windows and solar panels.
It is created first by removing the coating from the veneer and then nano-scale. The resulting effect creates a completely transparent new building material that has various applications in the construction and construction industry. Imagination to the power!.
Being a very cheap resource, it can benefit projects by reducing cost. The innovation took place at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. If you want to learn more properties of wood in construction, consult our article.
But this is not over yet! … Researchers from the University of Maryland have created a "Super wood" that is stronger than steel but six times lighter. First, they boil the wood in a mixture of sodium sulphite and sodium hydroxide to partially remove the lignin fiber and hemicellulose, and then they press it hot to crush the cell walls, creating durable nano fibers.
East new material for construction called "nano wood" when pressed in a certain direction, it is 30 times stronger than typical thermal insulating materials and much more insulating.
3.- Bricks that absorb pollution
The new building materials they also want to respect the environment and be sustainable. L Assistant Professor Carmen Trudell of Cal Poly's College of Architecture and Environmental Design, the Breathe Brick… Bricks that suck in air pollutants and release filtered air!
East innovative material for construction it is designed to be part of a building's standard ventilation system. It has a two-layer façade system, with special bricks on the outside and standard insulation on the inside.
In the center is a cyclonic filtration system that separates heavy particles from the air and collects them in a removable hopper. Its design is very similar to that of a vacuum. In short, a technology that can be easily applied to current construction processes.
By testing in the wind tunnel, it was shown that the system can filter 30% fine polluting particles and 100% coarse particles such as dust. A new component for works that can add a lot of value.
4.- Nanotechnology for windows
Researchers at Princeton University predict that the smart windows of the future could save up to 40 percent in energy costs.
The researchers developed a new type of smart window that controls the amount of light and heat that enters the building and is also powered by transparent solar cells in the window itself.
The technology is deposited on glass as a thin film, and the researchers are working to develop a flexible version that could easily be applied to existing windows. So soon aluminum and PVC windows will be history!
Building owners and managers could use an app on their phone to adjust the amount of sunlight that passes through a window during the day to help save on heating and cooling costs.
5.- The refrigerated bricks
Of the new modern building materials that are emerging, the combination of clay and hydrogel can be a breakthrough in efficiency. The students of the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia have created a new material that has a refreshing effect on the interiors of buildings.
The hydroceramics They have the ability to lower the indoor temperature by up to 6 degrees Celsius.
Its cooling effect is due to the presence of hydrogel in its structure, which absorbs water up to 500 times its weight. The absorbed water is released to reduce the temperature during hot days.
The incorporation of an innovative cooling system into the current building structure has made the Hydroceramics project one of the coolest building materials to revolutionize construction. Further progress in this direction can make home air conditioners obsolete.
6.- Use cigarette butts to make bricks
Every year 6 million cigarettes are manufactured and 1.2 million tons of cigarette butt waste is produced. The impact on the environment is tremendous. Elements such as arsenic, chromium, nickel and cadmium enter the soil and harm nature.
In order to reduce the impact of cigarette butts on the environment, MIT researchers developed lighter and more energy efficient bricks made from cigarette butts. In short, use waste in an innovative way and in a much more respectful way with the environment.
7.- The phosphorescent cement
A cement that has the ability to absorb and radiate light has been created by a researcher from the Michoacana University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH). With this new light-generating cement, the potential uses and applications can be enormous.
The construction industry is evolving and one of the main trends is the move towards a more efficient way of creating structures from the point of view of resources and energy. Therefore, the implications of the cement acting as a 'light bulb' are vast. We can use them in swimming pools, parking lots, road safety signs and much more.
See an interesting article on types of seats and foundations with excellent guides on injuries and common problems, there are 9 very useful documents for professionals.
Through the polycondensation process of raw materials such as river sand, industrial waste, silica, water and alkalis. The process is carried out at room temperature, so energy consumption is low.
It is worth mentioning that this cement was recognized by the Royal Academy of Engineering of London in the United Kingdom with the Newton Fund. This award is given to successful cases of technology transfer and entrepreneurship worldwide.
8.- CABKOMA rods for earthquakes
The Komatsu Seiten Fabric Laboratory, based in Japan, has created a new building material called CABKOMA Strand Rod. Is a thermoplastic carbon fiber composite that works perfectly against earthquakes.
The cord is the lightest seismic reinforcement and is very aesthetic. To see more about this material from Komatsu Seiten headquarters. The threads have reinforced the entire structure.
Remember that we have an article with abundant information and documents of interest on how to review earthquake damage to houses and structures in a visual format.
9.- Bioplastic furniture
Other innovation in the construction industry is the invention of bioplastic furniture for urban furniture. This innovation is due to the joint effort of two companies Terreform One and Genspace.
So far, there are two pieces of furniture created with this material, a chaise lounge and a small chair for children, but as we already saw in the article on architecture with plastic, the future is sure to be very promising!
Furniture is made from a material called Mycoform, which is made by combining wood chips, plaster, an oat component, and a fungus called Ganoderma lucidum. This fungus is added as it has the ability to disintegrate waste products and leave a strong structural material. It comprises interlocking segments that can be used to twist the chair in different ways.
A durable plastic suitable for use in furniture has not only been achieved, but potentially in architecture as well.
This combined effect creates a low-tech, low-energy and pollution-free furniture, since once the furniture has reached the end of its useful life, it can be disposed of in any biological environment - such as a garden - and decompose.
It is impossible to list all new and innovative building materials that go on the market day after day, so in the article on innovative materials we see some portals where you can find the latest in technology.
10.- Innovative super white paint
Engineers at Purdue University have created a super white paint that reflects 95.5% of light and is inexpensive to produce.
It can keep all surfaces cool, specifically, up to 18 degrees Fahrenheit (-7,778 ° C) cooler than its surroundings - insane! but without consuming energy. It efficiently radiates infrared heat (Remember, Reflect = relative to radiation and Isolate = relative to conduction).
With building envelopes at lower temperatures in the summer periods, the cooling of the houses could be reduced, that is, less air conditioning, and therefore, less energy consumption.
Not counting, with the multiple applications that could be practiced in the cities to forcefully reduce the famous "heat island". You can read more in our extensive article on the subject.
11.- The cement to turn buildings into huge batteries
Within the new building materials that can revolutionize the sector, of course, cement, is one of the great ones investigated by scientists.
In this case, the first cement-based rechargeable battery is being developed. The goal is to have buildings that can store energy in the structure through cement.
Cement has small amounts of carbon fibers to increase conductivity and flexural strength. Then, a metal-coated carbon fiber mesh is embedded within the mixture: iron for the anode and nickel for the cathode.
Result, a rechargeable battery with an average energy density of 7 watt hours per square meter, which, although not much, if we look at the amount of cement introduced into a building, we have a huge battery!
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