Ganpat university

2. What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the use of very small particles of material either by
themselves or by their manipulation to create new large scale materials.
The size of the particles, though, is very important because at the length
scale of the nanometer, 10-9m, the properties of the material actually
become affected.
“Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that allows us
to develop Materials with improved or totally new
properties”

3. What is a Nanoparticle
A nano particle is a microscopic particle whose size is
measured in nanometers (nm).
It is defined as a particle with at least one dimension less
than 200nm. Nano particles made of semiconducting material
(material that is between a conductor and insulator e.g.
silicon).
Carbon Nanotubes are a sub set of nano particles.

4. Nano materials for Construction
Because the size of the particles is a critical factor, the material
Properties significant differ at the nanoscale from that at larger
scales.
All these nano-properties actually affect the materials behavior
at macro-scale and, from this point, the power of nanotechnology is
emphasized: if the elements are proper manipulated at the
nanoscale, the macro-properties are affected and new materials
and processes can be developed

5. The Carbon Nanotubes
Carbon nano tubes are a form of carbon having a cylindrical shape,
the name coming from their nanometer diameter.
Nanotubes are members of the fullerene structural family and exhibit
extraordinary strength and unique electrical properties, being efficient
thermal conductors.
Expected benefits are mechanical, durability and crack prevention (in
cement); enhanced mechanical and thermal properties (in ceramics); real-
time structural health monitoring (NEMS/MEMS); and effective electron
mediation (in solar cells).

7. Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2)
The titanium dioxide nano particles are added to concrete to improve
its properties. This white pigment is used as an excellent reflective coating.
Or added to paints, cements and windows for its sterilizing properties.
Being hydrophilic gives self cleaning properties to surfaces to which it
is applied, because the rain water is attracted to the surface and forms
sheets which collect the pollutants and dirt particles previously broken
down and washes them off. The resulting concrete surface has a white
color that retains its whiteness very effectively. Expected benefits are
reinforcement in mechanical strength (in concrete); coolant, light
transmission, and fire resistance (in ceramics); flame-proofing and anti-
reflection (in windows).

8. Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles (SiO2)
Nano-SiO2 could significantly increase the compressive strength of
concretes containing large fly ash volume at early age, by filling the pores
between large fly ash and cement particles.
Nano-silica decreases the setting time of mortar when compared with
silica fume (micro silica) and reduces bleeding water and segregation by
the improvement of the cohesiveness.
Expected benefits are reinforcement in mechanical strength (in
concrete); coolant, light transmission, and fire resistance (in ceramics);
flame-proofing and anti-reflection( in window)

9. Nano Silica mixed in Concrete can
improve:
 Mechanical Properties
 Can Control the degradation of the
Fundamental C-S-H(Calcium-Silicate-
Hydrate) reaction of concrete.
 Can block water penetration and
therefore lead to improvements in
durability.
 They also increase strength as well as
offering the benefit of monitoring stress
levels through the measurement of
section electrical resistance.

10. Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO)
Zinc oxide is a unique material that exhibits semiconducting and
Piezoelectric dual properties.
It is added into various materials and products, including plastics,
ceramics, glass, cement, rubber, paints, adhesive, sealants, pigments, fire
retardants.
Used for concrete manufacturing, ZnO improves the processing time
and the resistance of concrete against water.

11. Silver Nanoparticles (Ag)
The core technology of Nanosilver is the ability to produce particles as
small as possible and to distribute these particles very uniformly.
When the Silver Nanoparticles are coated on the surface of any
material, the surface area is increasing several million times than the
normal silver foil.

12. Wolfram (Tungsten) Oxide Nanoparticles (WO3)
In recent years, tungsten trioxide has been employed in the
production of electro chromic windows, or smart windows.
These windows are electrically switchable glass that change light
transmission properties with an applied voltage.
This allows the user to tint their windows, changing the amount of heat
or light passing through.

13. Application of Nanotechnolagy in construction
•Lighter and stronger structural composites
•Low maintenance coating
•Improving pipe joining materials and techniques.
•Better properties of cementations materials
•Reducing the thermal transfer rate of fire retardant and insulation
•Increasing the sound absorption of acoustic absorber
•Increasing the reflectivity of glass

14. Nanotechnologies for Concrete
Silica (SiO2) is present in conventional concrete as part of the normal
mix..
The addition of nano-silica (SiO2) to cement based materials can
control the degradation of the calcium-silicate hydrate reaction caused by
calcium leaching in water, blocking water penetration and leading to
improvements in durability.
Carbon nanotubes increase the compressive strength of cement mortar
specimens. The addition of small amounts (1%) of carbon nanotubes can
improve the mechanical properties of mixture samples of Portland cement
and water.

15. Synthesized cementations nanoparticles, and Carbon nano tubes bridging cracks in
cement composite, Nanolayered calcium aluminates particles

16. Nanotechnologies for Steel
Fatigue is a significant issue that can lead to the structural failure of steel
subject to cyclic loading, such as in bridges or towers.
The addition of copper nano particles reduces the surface unevenness of
steel which leading to increased safety, less need for monitoring and
more efficient materials use in construction subjected to fatigue issues.
Vanadium and molybdenum nano particles improve the delayed fracture
problems associated with high strength bolts, reducing the effects of
hydrogen embrittlement and improving the steel micro-structure.

17. Surface of the stainless steel after electro deposition of palladium
nanoparticles at low and high magnifications are shown.

18. The use of TiO2 nanoparticles to glasses leads to so-called self
cleaning technology. Due to the nanoparticles photo catalytic
reactions, the organic pollutants, volatile organic compounds and
bacterial membranes are decomposed. As well, TiO2 being
hydrophilic, his attraction to water forms drops which then wash off
the dirt particles decomposed in the previous process.
Fire-protective glass is obtained using fumed silica (SiO2)
nanoparticles as a clear interlayer sandwiched between two glass
panels which turns into a rigid and opaque fire shield when is
heated.

20. Nanotechnologies for Coatings and
Paintings
Nanotechnology is applied to paints in order to assure the
corrosion protection under insulation since it is
hydrophobic and repels water from the metal pipe and
can also protect metal from salt water attack.

21. Nanotechnologies for Fire Protection
Fire resistance of steel structures is often provided by a coating
produced by a spray-on cementations process. Nano-cement
(made of nanosized particles) has the potential to create tough,
durable, high temperature coatings.
This is achieved by the mixing of carbon nanotubes with the
cementious material to fabricate fiber composites that can inherit
some of the outstanding properties of the nanotubes.

22. Nano technology in waterproofing building materials
Latest nano technology to produce eco-friendly Organo-Silicon
products to waterproof practically all the different kinds of
building materials.
The nano technology has ensured that service life of this
approach will lead to life cycles beyond 20 to 30 years at very
economical cost.
Building materials are known to have water seepage, water
leakages due to inherent porosity and microcracks.

23. Future challenges
While nanotechnology based construction products provide many advantages to
the design and construction process, the production of these products, however,
require a lot of energy. Also, the nanotubes might cause a lung problem to
construction workers. In other words, it creates an environmental challenge to
the construction industry as well. Sustainability and environmental issues
caused by growing economic development has gained intensive statewide and
worldwide attention.

24. More research and practice efforts are needed with smart design and planning,
construction projects can be made sustainable and therefore save energy, reduce
resource usage, and avoid damages to environment. It is necessary to establish a
system to identify the environmentally friendly and sustainable of construction
nanomaterials and to avoid the use of harmful materials in the future.