This document discusses the potential applications of nanotechnology in building and construction. It notes that nanotechnology could help address issues like infrastructure deterioration and poor building material quality that cost over $60 billion annually. Specifically, it describes how nanomaterials like carbon nanotubes, nano silica, nano titanium dioxide, and nanoclay could improve properties of cement, concrete, coatings, photovoltaics, and fire retardants; enhancing strength, durability, functionality and reducing flammability. However, challenges remain around dispersing nanofillers, measuring interfacial properties, and understanding health and environmental impacts that require further measurement science research.

1. Nanotechnology in
Building and Construction
Dr. Joannie W. Chin

2. 30,000 ft view30,000 ft view
Why
nanotechnology
in building and
construction?
Technical barriers
OPPORTUNITIES
Emerging
nanotechologies
in building and
construction

3. 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.

4. Material Needs in
Building and Construction
• Deterioration of the nation’s
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.

5. “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).

6. • 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
Nanomaterials in Construction

7. 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

8. 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

9. Carbon Nanotubes
Probes for
microscopy and
chemical imaging

10. 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

11. Coatings - Inorganic
Self-cleaning glass
Nano-TiO2 coated
glass
transparent TiO2
conventional
glass
self-cleaning
glass

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

13. Nanoadditive Fire Retardants
• Use of nanoadditive fire retardants
prompted by bans on halogenated
flame retardants enacted in many
states.
• 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.
Poor Dispersion Good Dispersion
Heat Flux Heat Flux

14. 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.

15. 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