Materials of the future in construction
The materials have been a head headache from the moment the laws of elasticity were discovered. Before that everything was trial and error. Then, scientific method, tests in test specimens and science of materials.
The world is constantly changing and evolving, but in recent years, the change in construction and architecture is taking more strength than in other sectors. This is possibly due, among other things, to the rise of the ideas of sustainability, energy efficiency and respect for the environment that we are surrounded by today.
The materials of the future are ultrarresistentes, ultralight and Autorepair, and could be closer than you think, as today are already investigated and applied in certain fields of science and engineering.
Graphene printed in 3d
The graphene is known as one of the lightest and most resistant materials on the planet. To these qualities we must add their extraordinary hardness, (much more than diamond and steel) but with great flexibility. And if it were not enough, a remarkable capacity to transmit heat and electricity.
Thanks to the studies it has been discovered how to obtain a very strong material, with a density of only 5%, but 10 times stronger than steel. Recreating everything with the use of 3d printing.
3d printers are currently the technological vanguard in many industrial fields, their vast possibilities coupled with the possible addition of graphene as a mixture of different polymers and thermoplastics will enable the creation of novel Forms of Architecture different from those known so far.
These same geometries can be applied to large-scale reconstruction materials. For example the concrete for the construction of a bridge can be created with porous geometry to increase its resistance.
“Solar paint”
The scientists of the RMIT have developed what they describe as the first “solar painting”. It is a liquid compound that combines titanium oxide nanoparticles with a variant of synthetic molybdenum disulfide created by researchers. The result is “a painting that absorbs sunlight and produces hydrogen fuel from solar energy and air humidity”, in the words of Torben Daeneke, the project’s chief investigator.
According to those responsible for the finding, their synthetic molybdenum disulfide has the ability to absorb the humidity of the environment, in a way similar to silicon gel. In this case, it is used to capture the water present in the atmosphere in the form of vapor.
Does it sound too nice? Well, there is a detail that makes the system more expensive: the paint must be applied in combination with catalytic membranes that collect and channel the hydrogen produced. Even so, “solar paint” seems a relatively inexpensive way to produce clean energy at home.
Bio-Concrete, a material that is repaired only
Researchers from the DELFT University of Technology that has developed a bio-concrete capable of autorrepararse. It consists in introducing in the concrete a new additive composed of small capsules that contain bacteria and calcium lactate, when the capsules break (by the action of the water that penetrates the cracks) the activity the bacteria causes a chemical reaction that It creates solidified and insoluble limestone. In the case of cracks in the concrete would activate this process that would fill and repair. This bio-concrete has already been successfully tested at a lifeguard station in the Netherlands.
Green Bricks
It seems that we are determined to replace the traditional brick in favor of any other material that is cheaper, more efficient and that contaminates the minimum in its production. Of course, the brick, like the shingles, seems to continue to have the same shape and probably the same size.
Biomason, an ecological brick that, although it seems incredible, is generated from microorganisms. He was born in 2012. The patent was created by Ginger Krieg dossier. It is an ecological alternative that does not release CO2 in its production and which is more economical, since it comes from natural resources. The brick Biomason is created at room temperature, feeding the micoorganismos with materials such as sand and generating conditions in which they begin to produce crystals until, finally, give rise to a brick.
It is such a sturdy material to be used in masonry. Although its manufacturing process continues to be updated to optimize its production and cost, it can already be considered as a sustainable alternative in the construction field.
Autorreparadores Plastics
The aerogel is an ultra-light material (3kg/m3) composed of more than 90% of air, it is a gel-like colloidal material, formed by solid particles dissolved in a gas that to the touch reminds of Styrofoam but of a semi-transparent aspect and highly Porous.
Its insulating properties confer to this material ideal characteristics as insulator, both thermal and acoustic. It can also be used in construction to lighten structures, because despite its reduced weight has a resistance that exceeds 1,000 times the relationship to its weight.
Fibre and composite Panels
The composites are made from glass fibers impregnated with a thermoplastic polymer formulated from polycarbonate, which are 30% cheaper and 3 times more resistant than a traditional brick wall. These materials are a good alternative for enclosures, interior divisions and roofs. It is a synthetic material, so it is immune to rodents and insects and this makes it also have a longer lifespan. Of course, it’s efficient and totally eco-friendly. It is insulating, giving rise to energy savings of up to 50%, producing 100 times less waste than brick and is recyclable to 100%.
Considering the speed of advances in materials engineering it is very possible that in less than five years these techniques have been perfected. Or even left behind by obsolete. New data are discovered every day, many thanks to increasingly refined finite element analysis techniques.