Building materials often account for more than half the cost of projects, and conventional materials like concrete make up most of the demand – not to mention the environmental cost. The last decade has brought about perhaps the greatest innovation we’ve seen in building materials in the last century. Here are a few innovative materials we may be seeing more of:
Self-healing concrete
Developed by microbiologist Henk Jonkers and concrete specialist Eric Schlangen, the concrete mix uses bacteria as a healing agent to close concrete cracks; it is embedded with tiny capsules of sodium silicate and when a crack forms the capsules rupture, releasing a gel-like healing agent that hardens to fill the void. Though other researchers have invented similar concrete bacterial combinations, embedding glass capillaries or polymer microcapsules to achieve similar results, Jonkers and Schlangen expect their mix to be the most cost-effective.
Digestive “smart” bricks
The smart bricks are being developed as part of the Living Architecture (LIAR) project coordinated by Newcastle University. The “digestive” bricks will be able to extract resources from sunlight, waste water and air.
Professor Rachel Armstrong explains: “The best way to describe what we’re trying to create is a ‘biomechanical cow’s’ stomach. It contains different chambers, each processing organic waste for a different, but overall has related purpose – like a digestive system for your home or your office.” The bricks will make up a bio-reactive façade that can be easily incorporated in housing, public buildings and office spaces.
Carbon nanotubes
Nanomaterials are ultra-lightweight materials that, though currently in the research stage, have the strength to function as a substitute for steel reinforcement in structures and foundations.
Aerogel insulation
One of the least dense substances on Earth, Aerogel is a foam-like solid material that holds its shape despite being 99.98% air. Aerogel has super-insulating properties, two to four times the insulating power of traditional fibreglass or foam insulation. Though still relatively expensive, Aerogel insulation has been used in a number of installations in buildings internationally.
3. 3D Printing