Construction
1. Nanotechnology Contributions at a Glance
One of the considerable area in which incremental nanotechnology keeps up with growing consumer demands is the construction industry. Although a wide range of nano-based products is already available on construction markets, state-of-the-art applications are in the process of being developed or sometimes close to market lauvnch.
NPD contains data about 933 construction nanoproducts of 154 various types. These products are introduced into global markets by 436 companies, the headquarters of which are located in 45 different countries. The products are classified into decoration, masonry materials, and structural materials sub-industrial sectors.
Masonry materials take the largest share of monitored nanoproducts in this industry. Similar to other areas, the construction industry is in desperate need of a new paradigm to reduce pollution and wastes. Therefore, various coatings and solutions are produced to lead to a revolution in constructing modern, safe, and inexpensive buildings, railways, hospitals, restaurants, offices, dams, airports, roadways, bridges, and parking lots, which enjoy self-cleaning, self-healing, anti-bacterial, waterproofing, anti-pollution, anti-stain, anti-fingerprint, anti-fouling, anti-graffiti, de-greying, and anti-lime properties. Titanium dioxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles are the most common nanomaterials, which have been commercialized to make such features. In addition, nano-based paints, concretes, primers, cements, resins, finishes, varnishes, and plasters are commonly used in construction these days. Washbasins, bidets, toilet lids, joint grouts, traffic signs, fiberglass culverts, tiles, ceramics, stones, and mosaics are also classified into this sub-industrial sector.
As for structural materials, manufacturers, authorities, and researchers all over the world have executed development plans to promote novel products such as pipes, aluminum panels, composite panels, fittings, steels, PVC composites, UPVC profiles, flexible connections, board fences, rebar, slats, armatures, meshes, frame plugs, supports, corners, sidings, convectors, joints, and collectors, which are enhanced or enabled with such nanomaterials as calcium carbonate nanoparticles, nanoclay, aluminum phosphate nanoparticles, polyurethane nanomembranes, polyvinyl chloride nanomembranes, and aluminum oxide thin films to strenuously resist against mechanical impacts, corrosion, erosion, abrasion, oxidation, moisture, thermal variations, chemicals, and UV radiation.
Moreover, nanotechnology equips decoration sub-industrial sector with extraordinary improved properties such as anti-bacterial activity, anti-fungal activity, UV protection, hardness, thermal insulation, sound insulation, corrosion resistance, abrasion resistance, wear resistance, stain resistance, energy consumption reduction, self-cleaning, fireproofing, and chemical stability by employing incorporated nanoparticles or surface-deposited thin films such as silver, titanium dioxide, and silicon dioxide.
2. Best-Performing Companies in Nanotechnology Exploitation
Hundreds of nano-based companies are active in the construction industrial sector all over the world, the most dominant of which are Shanghai huzheng nanotechnogy, Proseal products Inc, CTC Nanotechnology GmbH, NanoPhos, NanoSys GmbH, Graphenstone, NanoTech Coatings, Nanoproofed GmbH, Nanoprotech PTY Ltd, NADICO Technologie GmbH, Bioni CS GmbH, Nano Surface Solutions, BASF, Novita Co Ltd, Evonik Industries, Galen LLC, NANO-X GmbH, BYK, Pilkington, Tesla NanoCoatings, Aqua Shield, Ua Wood Floors, Nanolux Global Inc, and BOXER Construction Chemicals.
3. Top Countries in Nanotechnology Promotion
Analyzing the headquarters of the monitored companies reveals that USA, Germany, China, Iran, Russia, Spain, Taiwan, Switzerland, Greece, and Australia are the top ten countries which are the most active in supporting the exploitation of nanotechnology potential in the construction industry.
4. Search String
The keywords used to build up the construction industrial sector database are as follows:
Nano + solutions, coatings, wood, stone, paste, paint, glass, thatch, tile, mosaic, concrete, cement, sand, plaster, filler, thermal insulator, sound insulator, wax, composite panel, asphalt, additive, adhesive, photocatalytic solutions, self-cleaning solutions, and corrosion protective solutions.
