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Nanotechnologies in Russian construction

Fantastic prospects

20814Nano-technologies are occupying more and more space. Currently, the living cycle contracts volume in the nano-industry is about 600 billion roubles, said the IEPF Director General Andrei Svinarenko at the briefing. However, only a small part of this amount goes into the construction industry.

Hardly anybody would argue that the implementation of nano-technologies offers fantastic prospects for the construction industry, including high efficiency residential estates, new materials based on nano-technologies, and the creation of construction forms with absolutely new qualities.

NOSTROI is ready to take part in pilot projects.

Waiting for a legal framework

20815The main barrier to innovation, in NOSTROI President Nickolai Kutiyn’s opinion, is the absence of a technical standards base to implement nano-designs.

— Nano-technologies used in construction have a punctiform character, remarked Nickolai Kutiyn, and he explained: Suppose we use a new paint, or a sealed double glazed unit with a special heat protection layer etc., but these are separate processes.  And we must work out the implementation technology itself. Common rules and standards for builders, designers, producers of construction materials etc. are needed in order for them not to be impeded by legislative barriers.

Only then may the wide-spread application of nano-technologies in the field of construction be counted on happening. NOSTROI intends to develop such new standards in the near future.    

New resources for the construction industry

— Nobody has dispensed with such traditional materials as wood, brick, metal etc., explains the Head of the National Association of builders. But nano-technologies allow us to reach another level of material usage and apply new plastic and solid qualities to them.  The creation of new materials offers new opportunities to constructors, architects and designers.  

— A simple example, says Nickolai Kutiyn. Suppose, lamps with a minimal energy output are created. This opens up tremendous possibilities for designers who, using such lamps, can design new types of illumination.

The use of different heat insulation coatings allows an increase in home energy efficiency.  

— We hope that nano-technology usage in construction will allow us to save resources while exploiting houses and engineering networks, and will popularize “clever house” technology, stresses the IEPF Director General Andrei Svinarenko. 

20 educational standards have been adopted

20816Before nano-technologies can be used on a construction site, “educational” work must be carried out. Builders are to cooperate closely with ROSNANO in the sphere of educational programs.

As the President of the Nano-Industry Intersectoral Association, Olga Kryukova, told journalists, about 20 educational standards have been adopted. Plans are afoot to invite construction specialists, process directors and leading specialists to parallel training.

NOSTROI will add to the development of optional education by organizing base centers in the regions.  

As experts have said, the agreement will allow for high quality educational standards in the area of construction.  

Get their rear in gear

The construction market is a very interesting one for the introduction of innovations because it is flexible and mobile.

In the opinion of IEPF Director General Andrei Svinarenko, this new format of cooperation will motivate people and solve long-standing problems, for example, the use of composite materials. The work connected with the change of Construction Standards and Regulations has been ongoing for three years, but we still cannot say that composites are very popular.

IEPF have decided recently to promote innovations with the help of pilot projects in different areas: i.e. a school or a nursery school or some other object being built using only with nano- and innovation technologies.

— Nano-technologies are at the intersection of industry branches. That is why we are aiming for intersectoral and cross disciplinary / multidimensional cooperation, stresses Andrey Svinarenko.

Supertough concrete, modified wood, lacquer varnish with nano-agents…    

The network of nanotechnological centers, created with the participation of IEPF, is implementing more than 15 projects in the area of construction.  

For example, the most interesting project in paint-and-lacquer materials production…

The use of lacquer varnishes and paints with nano-agents for the inner and outer decoration of buildings reduces material costs by 40%.  Good adhesion (soaking) provides for long-lasting coverage.  

Modified wood for construction and decoration is very weather resistant. Ecologically clean bricks made of pressed soil lower production expenses because the raw material is dug from the building’s foundation pit.

Fiberglass for additional reinforcement of road and aerodrome slabs has increased solid performances.

Supertough concrete based on nano-technologies is three times as resistant as traditional analogues in axial compression.

One can expound upon new nano-designs endlessly. The main thing is that NOSTROI is actively involved in practical work. National associations can stimulate the application of new technologies in construction through proper policy in the area of innovation, developing new standards, and taking part in price-formation.

                                                                 Elena Shatalina

24-03-2015, 22:04
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