Modern materials and technologies are constantly transforming businesses, with the building industry no exception. From bricks made of mushrooms to energy-generating paint, let’s take a look at seven of the innovative building materials and products set to transform the industry.
1. Bio concrete
People searching for builders merchants jobs on websites such as BM Careers may well encounter bio concrete in the years to come. This material has microorganisms added to the concrete mix, which can produce limestone or calcium carbonate. This enables it to self-repair if the concrete becomes damaged by filling the cracks.
2. Graphene-enhanced concrete
A January 2022 University of Wollongong study found that graphene-enhanced concrete could improve the durability of the mortar and concrete when they are exposed to corrosive water environments.
3. Hempcrete
Hempcrete blocks are created by combining lime binder with woody stems from industrial hemp plants. The blocks are said to offer a low embodied carbon choice, meaning they have low climate impacts compared to traditional insulated walling.
4. Photovoltaic glass
Panes are created with layers of safety glass that have been heat treated. Photovoltaic glass can be used to generate electricity using sunlight in addition to being a building material.
5. Solar paint
Solar paint is being developed to generate clean electricity, either on its own or alongside photovoltaic cells. Researchers believe these paints could have a use in all sorts of ways, including properties on which photovoltaic cells cannot be installed. The solar paint could also be applied to other energy creation sources, such as wind turbines, to offer a more consistent flow of energy.
6. Recycled bricks
Rather than reclaimed bricks from demolition sites, recycled bricks are new products created from waste chalks and clays. They can be made with waste materials from construction sites.
7. Plastic bricks
Bricks are being made from recycled plastic to be used in everything from walls to paving. Research has found that these bricks can be two-and-a-half times stronger in terms of compression compared to clay-fired bricks.
