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Monday, 27th April 2009 (1214 views)

Nanotechnology could play a key role in the future of the construction industry, it has been claimed.

The technology, which often involves the use of gold, can be used to develop a number of new substances that offer environmental and economic advantages over the traditional materials currently in use, Nanowerk News reports.

Adding a nanocoating to renewable substances such as paper and recycled waste means they can be used as a replacement for plastic, while reinforcing glass with nanotechnology could result in it becoming a more integral part of the structure of a building.

"As the technology develops … nanomaterials are becoming cheaper to produce, making [them] a favourable option for low-cost housing," the news source stated, adding that it can be used to fire-proof buildings in cities as well as provide insulation for buildings in extreme climates.

Elsewhere in the sector, researchers at the University of Southampton are using nanotechnology to develop new blood-testing kits that can be used in GP surgeries.

 

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