Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1
Introduction to nanotechnology
in eco-effi cient construction
F. PACHECO-TORGAL, University of Minho, Portugal
DOI
: 10.1533/9780857098832.1
Abstract
: This chapter provides a brief overview of some important
aspects of nanotechnology starting with its earlier steps and how
countries are trying to establish an advantageous position in this fi eld.
China deserves a special mention because it is already the second largest
producer of nanotechnology papers after the United States. The need for
nanotechnology in the construction sector is emphasized. An outline of
the topic is given.
Key words
: nanotechnology, eco-effi cient construction, UN Millennium
Goal, concrete, energy effi ciency.
1.1
Introduction
Nanotechnology is a hot topic in current research, defi ned by Drexler
(1981) as the manufacture of products using dimensions and precision of
between 0.1 and 100 nm (1 nm
10
−9
m). It should be noted, however,
that two decades prior to Drexler's work, the physicist Richard Feynman
made a speech entitled 'There's plenty of room at the bottom' at a 1959
meeting of the American Physical Society at Caltech; this is considered to
be the beginning of the era of nanotechnology era (Feynman, 1960).
In 1981 an expert group appointed by the European Commission was not
able to agree on a fi rm defi nition of nanotechnology, but did arrive at a
working defi nition for nanoscience and nanotechnology (NST) as 'the
manipulation, precision placement, measurement, modeling or manufac-
ture of sub-100 nanometer scale matter' (Glänzel
et al.
, 2003). The rapid
evolution of research in this area is demonstrated by the growth rate of
papers published with the 'nano-' prefi x in the title in the period between
1992 and 2001, which increased exponentially with a doubling time of
2 years (Glänzel
et al.
, 2003). Economic estimates regarding advances in
nanotechnology are still more striking: it is predicted that products and
services related to nanotechnology could reach several hundred billion
euros by the end of the decade (NSF, 2001; Compañó and Hullmann, 2002).
Dozens of countries already have national strategies in place and have
begun to implement national nanotechnology plans (Rieke and Bachmann,
2004; Soltani
et al.
, 2011). According to Arnall and Parr (2005), countries
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