10 Most Innovative Construction Materials
Construction industry has been churning out various new and innovative materials that offer more productive gains for the builder and the residents alike. While brick, mortar and cement have been the traditional pillars of the construction industry, new innovative products developed in recent times have the power to change the face of the construction industry in totality. Let us take a look at the top 10 innovative construction materials that are revolutionizing the construction sector across the globe.
Translucent concrete: Translucent concrete is of one of the most widely used innovative construction material in recent times. Translucent concrete as the name suggests allows natural light to be transmitted from the walls during the day time. This is a boon for rooms which do not receive ample sunlight. Built using Translucent concrete, the same rooms can now have natural brightness compared to traditional concrete building material.
3d printing in concrete: 3D Printing is likely to change the way interior designing for homes and offices is done. From being used in concrete to virtually all other construction materials, 3 D printing with its low carbon dioxide emission and low wastage offers designers a wonderful tool of designing various shapes and textures. 3D printed house is a new trend in the industry.
Self healing concrete: Ever imagined concrete that can heal itself in case of cracks? Self healing concrete is now reality and not part of any dream sequence. Self healing concrete uses an encapsulated bacterium that rejoins any cracks thereby reducing the costs of waterproofing and painting.
Photovoltaic glazing: Photovoltaic glazing uses state of the art photovoltaic cells that are built into the glass allowing it to save solar energy. Photovoltaic glazing offers tremendous scope for buildings to become part of a green living experience offering glass shields that are virtual power banks reducing dependency of electricity.
Electro chromic technology: Electro chromic technology is a new technology that combines the passage of low-voltage electric charges across a microscopically thin coating on glass surface allowing changes in the transparency levels of glass. Just as electric current passes through the surface of the glass making it change from clear to opaque, solar transmission inside the building can be controlled.
ETFE: ETFE or ethyltetrafluorethylene is essentially a plastic membrane that is installed as a skin layer on top of a building. Once installed, the ETFE membrane is filled with air to form a pillow or a series of pillows insulating the building. ETFE membrane is light weight and uses only 1 % of equivalent glass to enclose a building.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics: Carbon fiber reinforced plastics, also commonly known as CFRP is used to create complex forms. With its stiffness and strength reaching more than twice of that of steel, CFRP allows double strength with only 25% density.
Glass-reinforced concrete: Glass-reinforced concrete is unique product being actively used in a lot of residential and commercial ventures. Glass-reinforced concrete is lightweight and can take various forms owing to its thin presence using very little raw material.
LED lighting: LED lighting makes the building more energy efficient and sustainable. LED lighting uses negligible energy while transmitting light. With no heat, it can be used in both interiors and exterior portions of the building.
Printed Glass Films: Rather than using various colored glasses, printed glass films are actively being used to create different colors and graphics for glasses. While saving costs, the printed films can have multiple graphics increasing the beauty quotient of the building.
