Nanotechnology in

Building and Construction

Dr. Joannie W. Chin

30,000 ft view
Why
nanotechnology
in building and
construction?

OPPORTUNITIES

Technical barriers

Emerging
nanotechologies
in building and
construction

Nanostructured Materials
Gaining control of
materials at the
nanoscale brings different
laws of physics into play.
Traditional materials
show radically enhanced
properties when
engineered at the
nanoscale.

Material Needs in
Building and Construction
Deterioration of the nations
infrastructure:

Cost of repairs is estimated to

exceed $2 trillion (NRC, ASCE).
Housing is plagued with poor
material quality and excessive
fire
losses that have led to
premature failure and annual repair costs exceeding
$60 billion.

Nanotechnology offers tremendous

potential for improving building materials.

The construction industry was the only industry to

identify nanotechnology as a promising emerging
technology in the UK Delphi Survey in the early 1990s
However, construction has lagged behind other
industrial sectors, such as automotive, chemicals,
electronics and biotech sectors, where nanotechnology
R&D has attracted significant interest and investment
from large industrial corporations and venture
capitalists.
Application of Nanotechnology in Construction, Materials and
Structures, 37, 649 (2004).

Nanomaterials in Construction
Strong industry interest in use of
nanostructured materials to improve
service life and flammability performance
of building materials
Lack of measurement science capability to
predict service life and flammability
performance of nanostructured materials.
Measurement science research is critical to
enable U.S. construction industry to
innovate and respond to global competition
and new environmental regulations

Cement and Concrete

Nano silica and clinker used to
increase densification and hence
mechanical properties and
durability of cementitious
materials.
Service life can be doubled
through the use of nano-additive
viscosity enhancers which reduce
diffusion of harmful agents in
concrete (patent pending).
Photocatalytic TiO2 added to
concrete to reduce carbon

Carbon Nanotubes
Heralded as one of the Top ten advances
in materials science over the last 50
years, Materials Today, 2008.
Sales of carbon nanotubes projected to
exceed $2B, >103 metric tons annually in
the next 4 - 7 years.
Major use electronics and composites.
Enhanced strength, stiffness
and toughness without
added weight
Improved durability
Increased functionality
Reduced flammability

Carbon Nanotubes

Probes for
microscopy and
chemical imaging

Coatings - Organic
Projected to make up 73 % of
nanocomposites market by
2010 (Freedonia Group).
Thin film, clear nanocomposites
for improved scratch and mar
properties.
Antimicrobial, self-cleaning
surfaces.

Smart coatings: Sense

Coatings - Inorganic
Self-cleaning glass
Nano-TiO2 coated
glass

conventional
glass

self-cleaning
glass

transparent TiO2

Photovoltaics
Predominant photovoltaic
material is silicon, but an
emerging technology involves
the use of dye-sensitized nanoTiO2.
Large surface area of nano TiO2
greatly increases photovoltaic
efficiency.
Also has potential for lower
material and processing costs
relative to conventional solar
cells.

Nanoadditive Fire Retardants

Use of nanoadditive fire retardants
prompted by bans on halogenated
flame retardants enacted in many
states.

Heat Flux

Poor Dispersion

Heat Flux

Good Dispersion

Polymer nanocomposites filled with

clay, CNTs, etc., possess improved
flammability resistance while
maintaining or improving mechanical
properties.
Reduces heat release rate during fire
event by formation of surface char
which insulates underlying material.

Challenges
Techniques for dispersing nanofillers AND
measuring degree of dispersion.
Measurement of adhesion and interfacial
properties.
Chemical and mechanical measurements at the
nanoscale.
Prediction of nanocomposite properties and service
life over a wide range of length scales.
Unknown health and environmental effects virgin,
released material.

Opportunities
Concrete with 2x service life Dale Bentz,
dale.bentz@nist.gov
Functionalized carbon nanotubes for nanocomposites and
chemical probes
Tinh Nguyen,
tinh.nguyen@Nist.gov
Nano fire retardants Jeff Gilman, jeffrey.gilman@Nist.gov
General inquiries Joannie Chin, joannie.chin@nist.gov,
301 975 6815