Functional nanomaterials and their applications toward smart and green buildings

Abstract

Currently, the construction industries worldwide are looking for materials with low carbon footprint and environment friendliness. However, ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based materials are widely used in building sectors and remain greatly responsible for carbon pollution. The deterioration that happens in such concretes from the very start of their service not only life reduces their lifespan but also demands more OPC. Furthermore, the continuous repair required is generally labor intensive and expensive. Thus, self-recovery of damaged concrete is a significant concern for environmental mitigation and energy saving. Recently, nanomaterial-based concretes have been exploited diversely in the construction engineering owing to their enhanced mechanical and durable attributes. The design as well as production of self-healing and sustainable concrete is an intensely researched topic in nanotechnology. With this view, this chapter provides a comprehensive assessment on nanomaterial-based self-healing concretes. The past developments, recent trends, environmental impacts, sustainability, advantages, and disadvantages of several methods of self-healing concrete production are discussed.