Building Small

Nanotechnology is finding a growing number of applications in the construction industry, according to this article, from helping to build structures that last for centuries to making sure they look as clean as the day they were built.  The Dio Padre Misericordioso Church in Rome, Italy, had nanostructured titanium dioxide particles imbedded in the cement binder used to make its concrete walls.  These TiO2 particles ensure that the concrete will stay white forever, while at the same time they clean the air around the church, gobbling up smog.  Despite its use in some high profile buildings, nanotechnology’s progress in the construction industry has been somewhat slow.  According to Peter J. M. Bartos, former head of the Scottish Center for Nanotechnology in Construction, “Construction is rather different from other industrial sectors.  Unlike other industries, for example, microelectronics, aerospace, or even the automotive industry, the level of investment in construction research is very low…the construction industry is dominated by small and medium-sized companies. There are no big players in construction like there are in the chemical industry, where there are massive R&D efforts. Most of construction is, in fact, done by small companies that just employ a few people.”  Improvement of concrete and cement through the addition of nanotechnology is one of the most promising applications, as it can make cement stronger and more sustainable.  Bruce Christensen, vice president of global technology and innovation management for construction chemicals at BASF, a company that is using nanotechnology in its products, says he expects the presence of this emerging technology in construction chemicals to grow.  “The nanotechnology ideas finding their way into construction in a practical way are probably now starting to gain momentum,” he said.   The use of nanotechnology in steel and window glass is another sector expected to grow.  While there is enormous potential of nanotechnology in construction, no one is certain whether there will be adverse consequences.  George Elvin, an architecture professor at Ball State University, United States, said, “Unfortunately, we haven’t always had the best track record in how we have used technology, and we have found out after the fact that certain applications, in some cases, were quite harmful, such as asbestos.”  Pedro J. J. Alvarez, chair of the civil and environmental engineering department at Rice University, also in the U.S., says the key is to minimize exposure.  Ultimately, however, Alvarez thinks nanotechnology will revolutionize the construction industry.  “But we’re at the infancy right now,” he says. “Before we move too fast, let’s make sure that the risk assessment and the eco-responsible use, design, and disposal don’t fall too far behind. We want to use nanotechnology as a tool for sustainability, and we want to make sure that we’re not creating a future environmental or public health liability.”

http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/89/8924cover.html