Apr 27 2009
Updates on Nanotechnology's Sweeping Changes in Construction at NCSC Conference in Cairo.
Conference will expose nanotechnology’s potential to enhance the properties of basic building materials while tackling challenges in the construction industry.
As the world’s most commonly used man-made material, concrete is serving as a prime target for development by the revolutionary science of nanotechnology, and will be a paramount feature of the Nano Cement, Steel & Construction Industries Conference to take place May 16-17, 2009 in Cairo, Egypt.
Concrete’s immense significance stems from the widespread use of concrete for construction in ancient Rome over two thousand years ago. The skillful Roman builders enhanced the properties of cement by introducing additives that would allow concrete to withstand different environments, lending to the survival of many Roman buildings.
Nanoscientists today are following a similar path of the great ancient civilizations to once again renovate the antiquated building materials that, in present form, have been relatively unchanged for over 100 years. At the nanoscale, dealing with structures of less than 100 nanometers (whereas the average diameter of a strand of hair is 60,000 nanometers) means that fundamental properties like strength, surface-to-mass ratio, and conductivity can be engineered much easier than at the macroscale to create dramatically different materials.
Markets are already bustling with nano-products including self-cleaning windows and toxin-detecting nanosensors, though they are merely the icing on the cake. Soon to arrive are building components that will serve as free energy sources, and materials as thin as glass yet strong enough to support high-rise towers. Sales of nanoengineered products are expected to top $1 trillion by 2015.
Nanotechnology in concrete has created a whole new group of products identified as “high-performance concrete”. This advanced concrete conforms to a set of standards above most common applications, but not necessarily limited to strength. Depending upon the type and ratio of nanomaterials mixed with the cement, different properties which, in the past were considered fixed characteristics of concrete, can be changed. Modifications can affect concrete permeability, density, toughness, and longevity in severe environments.
Nano-enhanced concrete is already being implemented in construction projects worldwide. In Rome, the birthplace of concrete, the Jubilee Church designed in 2003 by Richard Meier & Partners Architects includes concrete mixed with a titanium oxide nanocoating manufactured by Italcementi, and is notable for shedding dirt and its alluring whiteness.
The establishment of these highly advanced cementitious products will undoubtly redefine the tasks of construction. SabryCorp Ltd. for Science and Development has arranged for this conference to put construction companies worldwide on the fast track and provide the knowledge and resources that a growing number of enthusiasts have only recently begun manifesting. By increasing awareness of the potential nanotechnology has for the construction industry, a new system of safer, cleaner, and reliable construction practices will ensue.
For additional information about nano-construction and conference details and registration, please visit: http://www.nanocon.sabrycorp.com