Construction Materials of the Future

Rony

Moderator

More Construction Materials of the Future to Shape the Building Industry​


The construction industry has gone through massive changes in the past many years; various modern technologies are being introduced to make construction easier and more efficient.
Similarly, there have been tremendous improvements and innovations in construction materials to make the structures durable and stronger.
Traditional materials like cement, concrete, and asphalt have evolved—they now come in many different types and qualities.
As a result, builders nowadays use many different types of construction materials in Malaysia to meet the global construction standards.
Moreover, modern building materials are being introduced from time to time to meet various construction challenges.
In this post, you will learn about some of the most prominent, cutting-edge construction materials that are expected to shape the future of the construction industry.


1. Self-Healing Concrete​

Concrete is certainly the most popular construction material in Malaysia and around the world. However, it tends to crack quite frequently, so a lot of resources are spent on finding suitable alternatives. One such unexpected but highly efficient alternative is self-healing concrete.
Concrete capable of patching over its own cracks and fractures will certainly revolutionize the construction industry. It will eliminate the need for frequent repairs and prevent unnecessary leaks in the first place.
The concept of creating self-healing concrete involves mixing the concrete with a bacterium called Bacillus. This bacterium lays dormant for about 200 years, so self-healing concrete can be a long-term solution to fix the patches and cracks in concrete.

2. Invisible Solar Cells​

Researchers are developing fully invisible solar cells mainly for commercial purposes so that companies can avoid using the traditional photovoltaic panels that typically end up affecting the aesthetics of a building.
It involves using a solar concentrator over the windows to benefit from non-visible wavelengths of light and push them into the solar cells.


3. Bamboo-Reinforced Concrete​

Using bamboo in construction can be a game-changer because bamboo is cost-effective and has quick growth. Moreover, it provides significant strength, so it can provide the much-needed durability to the structures.
Therefore, researchers are trying to promote bamboo as a secondary building material to benefit from its natural strength and make the buildings stronger, cheaper, and eco-friendly.


4. Artificial Spider Silk​

There has been significant progress in the development of artificial spider silk. According to the researchers, the artificial spider silk is about 340 times stronger than traditional steel. Moreover, it is highly eco-friendly, so it has the potential to become a sustainable manufacturing material.


5. 3D-Printed Graphene​

Graphene has numerous applications due to its unique physical properties. It is also considered to be one of the strongest artificial materials in the world. Experts are developing 3D-printed graphene to use in the construction industry.
Initial research suggests that this kind of construction material can be about ten times stronger than steel and 5% of its weight as well. Hence, 3D-printed graphene certainly has significant potential to become a popular construction material in Malaysia.


6. 3D-Printed Sandstone​

3D-printed sandstone is another modern construction material that is expanding the application of 3D printing in the construction industry. It is a highly useful construction material due to its reliable structural properties and ability to develop various types of shapes during the construction process.


7. Aluminium Foam​

Aluminium foam is created by injecting air into the motel metal. After the metal cools down and solidifies, the material starts developing around the pockets of air to ensure a maximum strength-to-weight ratio.
This material is made from 50% of recycled materials, which means it is a reliable, eco-friendly construction material.


8. Hardwood Cross-Laminated Timber​

Cross-laminated timber is made from multiple layers of solid lumber. It is proving to be an important alternative for structures that must be built with eco-sustainability and durability.
The layered design of this construction material gives it significant strength comparable to the strength of reinforced concrete and structural steel.


9. Bioplastic​

Bioplastics are becoming increasingly popular due to their eco-friendliness. Bioplastic is made from various renewable biomass resources like algae and cellulose.
As a result, it has a quick degradation rate. Generally, bioplastic is used along with some other construction materials to provide more strength and durability to the structure.
 
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