Nanotechnology is transforming many industries, including construction. Nanomaterials are incredibly small - between 1 to 100 nanometers or about a million times smaller than the length of an ant. At this size, materials can take on new properties.
“Adding nanomaterials or making changes at this tiny size can transform familiar construction materials into concrete that conducts electricity, glass that cleans itself, and coatings that cut smog,” said Pete Stafford, Executive Director of the Center for Construction Research & Training (CPWR). “But we are only beginning to understand the possible hazards for workers who handle these materials.