What are smart materials in architecture?
Smart buildings are becoming more and more on the agenda. In order to be tailored, some materials have been developed to meet specific goals while in use without having to be operated by any person or device. Self-maintenance, clean air, work comfort and energy efficiency are just some of the benefits that can be achieved by adopting it.
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Before giving some examples, it is important to emphasize that most of these materials are in the development stage and deal with the latest technologies, which can increase their costs, and still have little presence in the market. However, given the demand and need for more sustainable solutions in the face of the climate crisis, it is likely that products will be developed and improved over the next few years and become more accessible. Next, get to know some of them.
bio-renewable concrete
Cracks or cracks, if left unrepaired, can swell and allow water to get inside the concrete structure, corroding the steel and damaging the mechanical qualities of the structure. Bio-concrete or bacterial concrete includes some types of bacilli (bacteria) in the cement mixture that reduce the need for maintenance in the material, producing spores that can survive for up to five decades without food or oxygen, and are able to naturally close any cracks that may arise.
carbon concrete
Four times stronger and lighter than usual reinforced concrete, this material uses carbon grids instead of iron elements, which indicates resources and financial savings, as well as reduced damage to the environment. They are made through a pyrolysis (pyrolysis) process in which tiny strands of carbon crystals are extracted and used to create a mesh where the concrete spreads before it hardens. So its advantage lies in about 50,000 individual fibers – much thinner than a human hair – that have been processed to form a reticular structure. In addition to allowing larger spans without the risk of collapsing, carbon concrete is able to generate lighter precast parts, eliminating the need for large jacks.
Hydro ceramic
The material developed by the Spanish students is ceramics with hydrogel bubbles capable of holding up to 400 times their volume in water. Due to this property, the balls absorb water, and on hot days, they evaporate, which cools the environment. On a rainy and low-temperature day, the bubbles increase in size, re-form themselves, and serve as a heat insulator. Therefore, the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the buildings are improved.
Self-cleaning materials
It is already possible to find materials such as self-cleaning paints, glass and ceramics on the market. What they have in common is that they contain nanoparticles of titanium dioxide in their composition, an element that makes photocatalysis, that is, increases the speed of chemical reactions when exposed to light, and removes microorganisms and dirt from the surface. In the case of paints, they offer savings in maintenance and repainting, and are suitable for use in outdoor spaces such as facades and ceilings, after all, with the heat of light (natural or artificial), the paint releases free radicals that break down polluting agents such as nitrogen oxide, reducing odors and improving air quality. in cities. In Rome, a painting was drawn inside a tunnel, which resulted in a 51% reduction in polluting gases in the area.