Researchers and various institutes are taking technology to the next level. Development in concrete and various other construction materials has been aggressive and intense. The development of innovative new building materials has allowed architects to better realize their visions, as they make more daring structures possible due to their improved strength, flexibility and durability. The next decade is likely to be instrumental in seeing some key applications realized commercially and being adopted by the mass market. Titanium Foam It is an innovative tough material with some interesting applications such as shipbuilding industry or medical prosthesis due to its lightness, flexibility, high chemical and mechanical strength and high stiffness. Programmable cement As the second most essential substance of modern humanity, concrete is still in focus of construction materials and developments. However, despite its vast century-long application, concrete still holds many mysteries. It was only recently discovered that the cement in concrete carbonizes CO2 over time. Studies like this one show that we need more understanding of the materials molecular structure. At Rice University’s Multiscale Materials Laboratory, researchers have discovered an unknown principle of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) behaviour. By controlling the kinetics of these particles, they are working towards what they call ‘programmable cement’. By shaping its microstructure, they can compel these particles to self-assemble for much greater packing density than conventional cement structures. Cooling Systems in Brick The material is called Hydro ceramics and it’s made up of hydrogel bubbles that are able to retain up to 400 times their volume in water. Thanks to this property, the spheres absorb liquid and on hot days their contents evaporate, reducing a space’s temperature. Cigarette Butts to Make Bricks One man’s trash is another man’s building material. Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (commonly known as RMIT University) have developed a technique for making bricks using cigarette butts. The team, led by Dr Abbas Mohajerani, found that making clay bricks with 1 percent of their volume being cigarette butts could completely offset the annual worldwide production of cigarettes and at the same time make a lighter and more efficient brick. 3D Printed Bricks If you move to the construction workplace a 3D printer, you could fabricate in-situ ceramic bricks with structural function and customized design. These bricks are fabricated in 15-20 minutes and once hardened it is possible to stack then and create walls, vaults or pillars. For more details: Noel Villas and Apartments
