Faculty of engineering

Architecture department

(Development of construction materials)

Academic English

First stage

2023-2024

Prepared by: yasr jamal Mohamad Amin Supervised by: Dr. Ali al-
wakeel
Date of making: 9-16 December 2023
Table of contents:
1
Abstract
……………………………………………………………………………………
……. 2
2
Introduction………………………………………………………………………
……………. 3-6

[2.1] what is construction

[2.2] what is material

[2.3] types of materials

[2.4] development

3
Development of construction
materials…………………………………………..7-14

[3.1] construction materials

[3.2] biological materials

4
The History of Construction and materials………………………….
…………….15-20

[4.1] Building materials from ancient Greece to the renaissance

[4.2] Construction in the seventeenth century

5
The most innovative construction
materials……………………………………… 20-26

6
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………
……………. 27

1
7
Reference………...
………………………………………………………………………..28-30

1
Abstract:
Architecture has a very old history, since ancient times there has been
architecture and the history of architecture and construction as old as the history
of humanity The first place where brick was used as a building material was in
Mesopotamia. Therefore, the development of materials began in ancient times
The creation of new materials and combinations of materials both in the past
and in the future is one of the most interesting developments in the construction
industry.

Over time, modernized building materials began to gain popularity. They are
currently most commonly used in construction.

The development of building materials has been a continuous process

throughout human history due to the need for safer and stronger materials. At
the same time, many other building materials were invented, called innovative
building materials.

Many of the materials that were used in the past are now useless due to the
development of building materials.

Imagine what buildings would be like today if it were not for the development
of building materials. How far would we progress? For example, in the old
days, the roofs of houses were made of mud. During rain, people were in danger
because of water entering the houses. Of course, this is a simple example, but

2
we have thousands of other examples It enabled scientists and experts to
continue to develop building materials

3
2
Introduction :
Construction is an ancient human activity that dates as far back as 400
BC. It started from using constructed materials to produce shelters for
regulating the effect of climates on humans. Soon, the advent of
agriculture paved the way for various construction materials such as
timber and animal skin. In Egypt and the Middle East, timbers were used
to construct dwellings for humans and as storage facilities for plants.

Soon developed tholoi – a construction material made of dry-laid stone to

build dwellings with domed roofs. The tholoi were the beginning of
masonry construction because of their durability.

In the Neolithic (New Stone Age), dwellings began to be more

[1]
permanent. Another variation of roofing material was introduced; Thatch.
Reeds or dried grasses were tied together in small bundles in an
overlapping pattern. However, the problem with this construction is that it
leaked badly.

Other construction materials, including tree bark, wattle and daub, and
clay, were mostly used in Polynesia, the Middle East, Indonesia, and
some parts of Europe.

A wide range of building materials is available for the construction of

rural buildings and structures. The proper selection of materials to be used
in a particular building or structure [2] can influence the original cost,
maintenance, ease of cleaning, durability and, of course, appearance.
Several factors need to be considered when choosing the materials for a
construction job, including:

1. Type and function of the building or structure and the specific

characteristics required of the materials used, i.e. great strength, water
resistance, wear resistance, attractive appearance, etc.

4
2. Economic aspects of the building/structure in terms of original
investment and annual cost of maintenance.

3. Availability of materials in the area.

4. Availability of the skilled labor required to install some types of

material.

5. Quality and durability of different types of material.

6. Transportation costs.

7. Selection of materials with compatible properties, dimensions and

means of installation.

8. Cultural acceptability or personal preference.

[2.1] What is construction :

Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form

objects, systems, or organizations To construct is the verb : the act of
building, and the noun is construction: how something is built, the nature
of its structure.

In its most widely used context, construction covers the processes

involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and
associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with
[3]
planning, financing, and design, and continues until the asset is built and
ready for use; construction also covers repairs and maintenance work, any
works to expand , extend and improve the asset, and Its eventual

5
demolition, dismantling or decommissioning. The construction industry
contributes significantly to many countries' gross domestic products (GDP).

Although the construction industry promotes economic development and

brings many non-monetary benefits to many countries, it Is one of the
most hazardous industries

[2.2] What is material:

Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. A useful way to
start thinking about matter is to think about the different materials, or
substances, that it can be made into.

[2.3] Types of materials

[4]
There are many different types of materials. Some examples of everyday
materials are plastics, metals, fabric and glass.

Ceramic materials are used to make traditional pottery, right through to

advanced ceramics used in engineering and medicine. These inventions
require scientists to understand the properties of minerals.

Some other fascinating, less well known materials include nanofibers,

biological materials and composites.

[2.4] development:
The word ‘development’ is widely used to refer to a specified state of
advancement or growth. It could also be used to describe a new and

6
advanced idea or product; or an event that constitutes a new stage under
changing circumstances. Generally, the term development [5] describes good
change. But how do you tell which change is good?

In this regard, researchers explain three ways that the term ‘development’
is used:

Development as a vision:
Here, the term is used to describe how desirable a society or a region is,
possibly with regard to what it can become Development as a historical
process:

This refers to social change that occurs over extended periods of time
due to inevitable processes. For instance, it Is widely believed that both
communism and capitalism are an inevitable outcome of progress.

Development as action:
This refers to deliberate action to change things for the better, as with
providing aid to alleviate hunger

All of these are definitions of development

3
Development of construction materials :
Development of construction materials – From idea to market

Expert advice and pilot production in connection with product

development, including recycling and upcycling.
7
Focus on developing new [6] and improved construction materials is
increasing as there is a great need to meet future challenges. This applies
to the development of energy-efficient and environmentally acceptable
materials, better resource utilization, including recycling and upcycling,
legal requirements for e.g. the content of hazardous substances, customer
needs and expectations in terms of quality and maintenance etc.

Of course We have seen what building materials were used in Ancient

Times and the Middle Ages. Another major watershed in this long history
was the Industrial Revolution, a huge paradigm shift that took place
between the late 18th century and the early 19th century. Alongside brick,
metals became an important building material, most notably iron and steel,
as did reinforced concrete. The earliest works [7] in iron, for example the
famous 1781 Iron Bridge over the River Severn in England, the first in
the world to be built out of this material, were erected in the eighteenth
century.

These major new developments in building materials made it possible to

put up buildings that had previously been unthinkable. Consider that the
first skyscrapers were built at the end of the 19th century.

The first building worthy of this name was the Home Insurance Building,
built in Chicago in 1885 and designed by William Le Baron Jenney.
Standing 55 meters tall, it is considered to be the first modern skyscraper.
Before long, the world marveled at the Eiffel Tower, which was built in
1889 out of 18,000 pieces of iron and some five million bolts.

-We need new ways of thinking in the house building industry and we need new
ways of developing designs based on material development and machine
technology. This can only be done if the production, design, and machine
builder work closely together. Or even better, within the same organization.

8
Making new materials and mixing materials both existing and coming is one of
the more interesting future developments in the building industry. One of the
most interesting developments is the sheeting of ceiling, floor, and walls.

Think of the following: we could get sheets of the size of a wall, ceiling, or
floor. This would not only give less handling, less fastening, less filling, less
grinding, it would also provide a better mechanical structure and a stronger box
both in terms of delivery, storms, and earthquakes. In addition (on the contrary
to what many believe) logistics, transportation costs and quality could be much
better than it is today, with standard sized sheets. In order to make the next
generation [8] house manufacturer, it will require a change in choice of material.
We need solid innovation and rethinking of the supply chain. We need
entrepreneurs from the material supply side that have an understanding of this
new way of thinking. We need to find smart methods on how to produce the
new materials and not least sustainable material choices and transports. For
example, small factories producing raw material, located just beside the main
house factory.

Steel, solid wood, light steel studs, CLT, GLT and other material in a new mix
would probably be a part of the future solution. In addition we probably will
find some new, not jet invented, materials around the corner. New inventions are
exciting and of great interest but we should not neglect what we already have.
Most materials and methods are already invented but “purification” of old
material and methods are mostly what leads the industries forward. E.g. Starship
and batteries made by Elon Musk. We need new ways of thinking in the house
building industry and we need new ways of developing designs based on
material development and machine technology. This can only be done if the
production, design, and machine builder work closely together. Or even better,
within the same organization.

9
Making new materials and mixing materials both existing and coming is one of
the more interesting future developments in the building industry. One of the
most interesting developments is the sheeting of ceiling, floor, and walls.

Think of the following: we could get sheets of the size of a wall, ceiling, or
floor. This would not only give less handling, less fastening, less filling, less
grinding, it would also provide a better mechanical structure and a stronger box
both in terms of delivery, storms, and earthquakes. In addition (on the contrary
to what many believe) logistics, transportation costs and quality could be much
better than it is today, with standard sized sheets.

In order to make the next generation house manufacturer, it will require a

change in choice of material. We need solid innovation and rethinking of the
supply chain. We need entrepreneurs from the material supply side that have an
understanding of this new way of thinking. We need to find smart methods on
how to produce the new materials and not least sustainable material choices and
transports. For example, small factories producing raw material, located just
beside the main house factory.

Steel, solid wood, light steel studs, CLT, GLT and other material in a new mix
would probably be a part of the future solution. In addition we probably will
find some new, not jet invented, materials around the corner. New inventions are
exciting and of great interest but we should not neglect what we already have.
Most materials and methods are already invented but “purification” of old
material and methods are mostly what leads the industries forward. E.g. Starship
and batteries made by Elon Musk.

[3.1] Construction Materials

10
As time went by, modernized construction materials began to gain
popularity. This marked the beginning of the distinction between
architecture and building. Wood, concrete, and steel are the materials most
commonly used in construction today.

1-Concrete

The origin of ready-mix concrete as a construction material can be traced back

to the Romans. They used cement to form concrete, which is incredibly versatile
and used to make constructing gladiator arenas, museums, theatres, and so on.
Concrete is a mix of cement, water, fine/coarse aggregates. In North America,
concrete is widely used to lay foundations during residential construction.
Concrete is primarily used to lay foundations in North American residential
construction to support the rest of the structure.

Like wood, concrete also comes with some benefits and a few drawbacks. They
serve as support materials to structures, yet they can be very toxic when inhaled.
However, researchers are investigating green methods to make concrete more
friendly for the environment and increase its strength while absorbing carbon iv
oxide.

2-Steel

Steel can be easily customized without compromising design and structural

strength. Both hot rolled and cold-formed steel is used for modern construction
industry solutions, including residential and industrial projects.

Steel comes with a lot of benefits for the modern construction industry in
Malaysia. It is lightweight, high in [9] stiffness and strength, non-combustible,

11
termite-proof, and completely recyclable. These unique characteristics make
steel beneficial for both manufacturing and structural purposes.

3. Wood

Wood remains a common material in building development throughout the

world. This ancient material has been serving the construction industry for time
immemorial. With expansive forests, Europe and North America are the havens
of wood.

Many homes in these nations are mainly timber-framed homes. Timber comes
with a lot of benefits and some drawbacks. It is inexpensive and can be carved
into any shape. On the downside, the integrity of the building becomes
compromised when the woods used are exposed to moisture.

Due to its ability to absorb moisture, wood also creates a conducive

environment for moisture growth in homes. However, researchers have been
able to develop various treatments for timber to ensure their safety.

4. Glass and plastic

Glass and plastic are not left out in the innovative trend. Presently, there are a
lot innovative materials derived from plastic and glass. Some already exist in
Polish markets such as blast [10 ] resistant, impact resistant, bullet resistant, and
fire-resistant glass materials. Some of these finished products have higher
mechanical strength more than three to six times than that of plain glass, high
thermal resistance and resistance to temperature changes.

12
They are better materials due to their ability to shields noise in streets, highways
and support large loads in structural environments such as building facades,
skylights etc.

Studies reveals that plastics of high molecular weight are suitable for building
structures owing to lightness, great chemical resistance, and light transmittance
but have low elasticity coefficient, high rheological defects, low thermal
resistance, low tensile strength and ageing caused by UV radiation. Plastics
reinforced with glass fibers are sustainable and reliable, the plastic strength
increases from (10-80) MPA to (130-600) MPA

-Other construction materials:

1.Green-mix concrete

Green-mix concrete is a new construction material that durable, stronger and

more environmentally

friendly. These concrete ingredients mixed with suitable agricultural or

industrial waste and material

recycled to produce sustainable products.

2.Geometric microstructure

Some researchers have established a method of controlling waves travel through

materials without

structural composition change that keep structures from seismic events.

Researchers have successfully

13
formed a steel plate microstructure pattern to buckle and acoustic waves. The
waves redirected carry

enormous energy to residential buildings through a cloak metamaterial property

from tsunamis.

[3.2] Biological materials:

Owing to the danger imposed by micro crack occurrence in the concrete

structure, especially when exposed

to a moist environment, it is therefore imperative to develop durable concrete

structures devoid of cracking.

This has gingered researchers to work on various ways of developing

environmentally friendly techniques.

Prior to this period, remediation of cracks is most time achieved through

regularly using synthetic polymers and this chemical are not [11 ] environment
friendly. Presently, bacterial induced carbonate mineralization has been
recommended and this is an environment friendly method for the remediation of
cracks. This technique is called autogenous healing. The basic autogenous
healing mechanism depends on a number of physical, chemical and mechanical
processes. The contribution of calcium carbonate is significant in this process.
Some bacteria have the potential to heal micro cracks and these bacteria can be
found in soil, sand and some other natural minerals . Bio concrete is a product
manufactured with a formula as a remedy to cracks in concrete and add
aesthetic values to concrete. It protects the building's integrity when water
enters and corrodes the reinforcing steel.

14
-The structure, material, and make-up of the basic constituents of building
materials might have changed over the years, but the output remains the same, a
haven. Building a home is not exclusive to humans; certain birds create the most
elaborate and beautiful nests with twigs, leaves, mud, and similar items. In
earlier civilizations and [12] past eras, humans used natural items, like mud, clay,
bamboo, rocks, wood, etc., to make a building.

As revolution and industrialization came into play, the building got more
modernized, and so did the materials used; concrete, bricks, steel, glass, and
even aluminum became the standard modern building material. Modern
building materials are manufactured in factories and engineered to meet specific
performance standards. They are often made from synthetic materials.
Traditional building materials are made from natural materials found in the local
environment, such as wood, stone, mud, and thatch.

4
The History of Construction and materials:
is endless started thirty thousand years ago, where people used to roam from
one place to another, hunting animals and looking for wild plants to eat. As they
were always travelling, they did not build any shelter at the beginning.

Much later on, few thousand years pass by, the early humans began to put up
shelters to protect them from harsh climates made by animal skin, leaves and
branches that were perishable. That's how humankind started finding ways of
building shelters that were larger, stronger and comfortable.

[13]
The history of architecture and construction is as old as human history. So,
let's discuss on few turning points to understand the evolution of architecture.

15
Stone Age Construction

• Neolithic, also known as the Old Stone Age period, from 9000 BC to 5000
BC.

• It was the last period of age before the use of woodwork in buildings.

• The tools used were from natural materials, including bone, stone, antler, hide
(animal skin), wood, grasses and animal fiber.

• Bones such as mammoth ribs, hide, stone, metal, bark, clay, lime plaster and
more are used as building materials.

• A complete Neolithic village was seen at Skara Brae in Scotland, Europe.

• The first mud bricks made with hands belong to the late Stone Age period
were found in Jericho.

[4.1] Building materials from Ancient Greece to the

Renaissance
The first place that bricks were used as a building material was in Mesopotamia,
in the second millennium BC. From then on, building materials and their
characteristics rapidly evolved. Worked stone began to be used in tandem with
metal beams and staples. Increasingly-advanced construction techniques made it
possible for stunning cities and magnificent temples to be built in Ancient
Greece. Associating new technologies with classical building materials, stately
villas and agora offered a blueprint for European and, more specifically,
Mediterranean architecture.

16
The Romans took things a step further, introducing an essential new building
material – concrete – that made major architectural advances possible.
[14]
Alongside the introduction of concrete, the Romans put bricks at the center
of the art of masonry; stone was used no longer as an out-and-out building
material, but as cladding. Bricks underwent their own evolution over the
centuries, from first century BC raw bricks to the widespread use of baked
bricks under Tiberius’ reign. Timber was still used, particularly as the main
material for building the upper floors of insulae, buildings that stood four or five
stores high.

As we know, in the Middle Ages stone once again became the main construction
material for the most important buildings, churches and castles. This period also
saw the introduction of glass, a new material that, from then on, would be of
key importance to buildings. The uptake of glass was accelerated by the
expanding Republic of Venice.

The Renaissance heralded another change, as brick returned to oust stone. Brick
remained the undisputed construction material for many centuries to come,
leading to unique and truly ingenious works such as Florence Cathedral’s dome.
During the Renaissance, plaster became widely used, both as an architectural
element with a protective, bonding purpose, and as an aesthetic decoration for
buildings.

[4.2] Construction in the Seventeenth Century:

• It is the birth of modern science that would have profound effects for centuries
to come.

17
• The seventeenth-century structures relied strongly on experience, rules of
thumb and the use of scale methods.

[15]
• Manufacturing of glass took place in this period, with the first cast plate
glass being developed in France.

• Most buildings had stone ashlar surfaces covering rubber cores bind together
with lime mortar.

• Many tools were made like line gauge, plum-line, the carpenter's square, the
spirit level, and the drafting compass are still in regular use

The development of construction materials has been an ongoing process

throughout human history, [16] driven by the need for safer, more durable, and
sustainable materials. Here's an overview of the historical development and
recent trends in construction materials:

-Traditional Concrete:

Basic concrete, composed of cement, water, and aggregates, has been a key
material. However, it has sustainability concerns and can contribute to carbon
emissions during production.

High-Performance Concrete: Incorporating additives and admixtures, high-

performance concrete offers improved strength, durability, and other specialized
properties.

Fiber-Reinforced Concrete: Adding fibers (e.g., steel, glass, or synthetic fibers)

enhances the toughness and crack resistance of concrete.

18
Innovative and Sustainable Materials:

-Nano-Enhanced Materials:

Nanotechnology is being applied to enhance the properties of construction

materials, such as improving strength, durability, and resistance to
environmental factors.

-Smart Materials:

Self-Healing Materials: Some materials are designed to repair cracks

autonomously, improving the lifespan of structures.

[17]
Smart Sensors: Integration of sensors into construction materials for real-
time monitoring of structural health and performance.

-Biodegradable Materials:

Bioplastics: Research is ongoing to develop biodegradable construction

materials, such as bioplastics, to reduce environmental impact.

The development of construction materials continues to evolve with a focus on

sustainability, durability, and innovation to meet the demands of the modern
construction industry while minimizing environmental impact. Ongoing
research and technological advancements contribute to the discovery of new
materials and improved construction techniques.

The evolution of the construction industry didn’t happen only in connection

with how the work is done. With the help of technology, we discovered and

19
created materials that supported the plain steel and concrete structures and
provided them with more strength, grace, and durability.

An array of innovative new [18] materials is making an impact in specific areas of

construction today. For e.g. honeycomb structures and forms are used for
providing greater strength, polyester fiber offers durability for refitting sewers
and water pipelines.

Today, construction work is being undertaken at demanding locations like Arctic

areas, undersea, and at radioactive sites to name a few of these extraordinary
locations. The specialized materials aid the cause of out-of-the-box thinking in
the construction industry.

Quest for better life forced man to create safer and better living conditions that

provide reliability, durability, functionality and have some elements of harmony

and beauty.

[19]
Acceptability of innovative construction materials should be based on
satisfying some of these requirements

such as sustainability, durability, reliability, safety, reduction in cost, improved

quality, better mechanical

and physical characteristics, extreme condition flexibility, simple assembly and

environmentally friendly Some of the innovative construction materials include
3D printed sandstone, aluminum, foam, and bamboo reinforced concrete, bio-
receptive concrete, bricks made from pollutants, plaited microbial

cellulose, and super plasticizers. There is also a success story in the area of
turning waste to wealth by replacing sand and cement with pond ash/fly ash in
concrete production . This results in cost decrease

20
5
The most innovative construction materials:

We have collected the most interesting and innovative materials in construction

that are already in use and some that are promising concepts being tested within
pilot projects. A number of building materials are not necessarily brand new
ones — that is, the technology was developed and tested a long time ago, but it
is still used selectively and isn’t widespread. New building materials are used
both for decorative finishes and as core materials in building structures. So, here
are some innovative materials for construction:

1. Transparent Wood
2. Carbon Fiber
3. Sensi Tiles
4. Self-healing concrete
5. Liquid granite
6. Transparent Aluminum
7. Rich lite
8. LAMINATED WOOD
9. HYDROCERAMICs (PASSIVE COOLING)
10. FLEXICOMB
11. BIO-COAL LINING
12. AEROGEL
13. HYDROCERAMICs (PASSIVE COOLING)

1.Transparent Wood

The invention of the newest eco-friendly material — transparent wood — was

announced back in 2016. However, it was only in 2020, that the scientist who
invented a method to make wood transparent in collaboration with a team from
21
the University of Maryland at College Park, stated that the tests were completed
and that they had achieved a stable result.

Transparent wood is at least 5 times stronger and lighter than glass, as well as
being more thermally efficient.

It is these characteristics that make it an interesting potential replacement for

plastic or glass windows.

2. Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber, is truly a material of the future – albeit one that has long been
used in different sports! However, this innovative material has been more and
more frequently used in construction, an industry that often demands a
combination of strength and lightness. Carbon fiber is 75% lighter than iron and
30% lighter than aluminum. It is used to reinforce traditional building materials
to improve their strength — bricks, reinforced concrete blocks, wooden
structures — as well as to reduce the thickness of panels and, accordingly, lower
their weight. Carbon fiber reinforcement for concrete also provides excellent
thermal insulation.

3.SensiTiles

A new type of finishing building material is a sensitive tile with acrylic fiber
which reacts to your movements, touch, or light sources. The optical fiber
transmits light and reacts: the tile can twinkle, light up, catch and scatter
neighboring colors on its surface

4.Self-healing concrete

22
The term “self-healing concrete” sounds more than a little fantastical. Back in
2015, inventor Henk Jonkers from Delft University of Technology showed an
innovative method to repair cracks in concrete using bacteria. The principle of
the technology is simple: capsules containing specific bacteria and nutrients for
them were added to the concrete: the bacteria were activated as soon as water
hit. Cracked concrete was rebuilt with moisture, filled with limestone produced
by the bacteria.

5.Liquid granite

Artificial “liquid” stone is a special liquid construction mixture (made of 70%

marble chips and 30% special additives and decorative filler) that is sprayed
onto surfaces including concrete, brickwork, stone and asphalt. Due to its
composition, the liquid congeals to form a tight seal, providing the surface with
durability and an attractive appearance. Liquid granite is an eco-friendly
material since it includes safe resins, natural marble chips, and mineral fillers .

6.Transparent Aluminum

This material of the future is a physical reality. In simple terms, it is a

transparent ceramic based on aluminum oxynitride (Alon). The main features of
this material are scratch resistance and durability. Transparent aluminum is
much more durable than aluminosilicate glass (quartz) and it’s also 85% harder

7.Richlite

Rich lite is a durable paper composite material. It is made of waste paper which
is pressed into hard, smooth panels that can be processed. Properly-sourced
paper is far more environmentally friendly than many of the most common
materials used in construction, and this is one of Richie’s main advantages.

23
However, technology turns it into an amazing raw material which is so
necessary for eco-construction.

than sapphire. In addition, it can withstand heat up to 2,100⁰C. It is resistant to

radiation, acids, alkalis and water. Naturally, the material was immediately
adopted by the military and optics industries. But in construction, it is used for
impact-resistant windows, domes and other elements that require transparency
and strength.

8. LAMINATED WOOD

This is an innovative material that uses wood in all its elements. The wood is
pressed into panels and laminated, making it into a solid block which is much
stronger than ordinary wood.

Within this category you’ll find sub-types such as cross-laminated timber and
laminated wood. Laminated wood consists of several pieces of lumber glued
together which are used to create strong beams. Cross-laminated timber is made
of pieces of wood laid in alternating directions to create large panels that can
withstand heavy loads. Both types of wood are extremely fire-resistant. The
outer layers, when burning, create charring which helps to insulate the rest of
the wood. During fire resistance tests, they demonstrated the ability to maintain
their structural integrity. Using solid wood facilitates carbon capture while the
trees are growing and while the wood is in use in the buildings. According to
one study published in the Journal of Sustainable Forestry, if sustainable
forestry is used, 14 to 31% of global emissions can be prevented by replacing
materials used in buildings and bridges with wood.

9.HYDROCERAMICS (PASSIVE COOLING)

24
This is a composite facade material made of clay and hydrogel which is capable
of cooling the interiors of buildings by up to 6 °C. Hydro ceramics use the
hydrogel’s ability to absorb 500 times more water than its own weight to create
a building system that “becomes a living being as part of nature, not beyond it.”
The technology was developed by [20] Spanish students at the Institute for
Advanced Architecture of Catalonia back in 2014. Since that time, this
innovative material that enables self-cooling systems are in great demand in the
construction industry and among architects. It is especially popular for eco-
construction as it can save up to 28% of the total energy consumption of
traditional cooling devices.

10.FLEXICOMB

Flex comb is inspired by nature – as you might guess from the name, the
structure of this material is inspired by honeycombs. This very simple idea has
turned out to be amazingly flexible and functional. The idea first appeared at
Yale University where researchers studied the honeycomb structure. By
combining drinking straws into one array, it is easy to create a structure
resembling a honeycomb. It also offers the opportunity to recycle or upcycle a
common plastic nuisance – the drinking straw.

11.BIO-COAL LINING

Berlin-based startup Made of Air has developed a special non-toxic bioplastic

made of biochar from forest and agricultural waste. It captures carbon and can
be used for everything from building facades, furniture, interiors, transport and
urban infrastructure.

The recycled material consists of 90% carbon and is able to absorb CO2 from
the atmosphere, and is itself a carbon-negative material.

25
12. AEROGEL

The hardest and the lightest material in the world is made of 99.8% air!

This synthetic porous ultralight material is derived from a gel in which the
liquid component of the gel is replaced by a gas. The result is a very solid body
with extremely low density and low thermal conductivity. To the touch, it
resembles brittle polystyrene foam. Aerogels can be made of a variety of
chemical compounds. It was first produced in 1931 as the brainchild of Samuel
Stephens Kistler. He argued that he could replace liquid with gas without
shrinking the structure. The first aerogels were made of silica gels. Kistler’s
later work concerned aerogels based on aluminum oxide, chromium oxide and
tin dioxide. Carbon aerogels were first developed in the late 1980s. A special
feature of aerogels is that they can have a lower thermal conductivity than that
of the gas they contain. This material is an excellent thermal insulator, so it is
widely used for environmentally friendly and efficient thermal insulation on an
industrial scale. Due to the high and fine porosity of the structure, aerogels can
be used as a collecting matrix for the smallest dust particles

13. HYDROCERAMICs (PASSIVE COOLING)

This is a composite facade material made of clay and hydrogel which is capable
of cooling the interiors of buildings by up to 6 °C. Hydro ceramics use the
hydrogel’s ability to absorb 500 times more water than its own weight to create
a building system that “becomes a living being as part of nature, not beyond it.”
The technology was developed by Spanish students at the Institute for
Advanced Architecture of Catalonia back in 2014. Since that time, this
innovative material that enables self-cooling systems are in great demand in the
construction industry and among architects. It is especially popular for eco-

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construction as it can save up to 28% of the total energy consumption of
traditional cooling devices.

6
Conclusion:

In conclusion, the development of construction materials has witnessed a

dynamic evolution over time, driven by the quest for enhanced durability,
sustainability, and innovative solutions.

So building materials have been developing since ancient times and will
continue to develop in the future to improve the structure of buildings and make
people's lives better, but not all materials are necessarily in development. Some
materials become useless because of the development of materials

From traditional materials like wood and stone to the widespread use of steel
and the advent of advanced materials like high-performance concrete, the
construction industry continues to explore new frontiers. Additionally,
advancements in nanotechnology, 3D printing, and smart materials are
reshaping the landscape of construction, offering improved efficiency,
durability, and environmental

responsibility. The ongoing commitment to research and innovation ensures that

[construction materials will continue to evolve, meeting the ever-changing
needs of a growing and dynamic global infract.

27
7
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