The Future of Smart Infrastructure: Applications of Nanomaterials

Nanomaterials can be composed of various types of substances. A material is generally defined as a nanomaterial when at least one of its dimensions is within the nanoscale range of 1 to 100 nanometers. Due to the unique physical, chemical, and mechanical properties exhibited by nanomaterials, they can significantly influence the performance of concrete. Therefore, in recent years, an increasing number of nanomaterials have been incorporated into cement-based materials as research subjects and for use in some high-performance or specialized construction projects, such as smart infrastructure, airport pavements, nuclear facilities, and marine structures.

The important contribution of nanomaterials in concrete is to improve the microstructure of cement-based materials. The nanoparticles could fill the micropores of the cement paste and accelerate the hydration reaction of cement particles with water so that the cement paste would become denser and stronger after formation. Concrete with nanoparticles can reach a higher mechanical strength, lower water permeability, and improved resistance to aggressive agents. This leads to a denser concrete with less permeability.

Moreover, common nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes and graphene are conductive nanomaterials. Their role is to realize self-sensing properties by forming conductive pathways in the concrete matrix after being added to concrete. The nanomaterials can detect changes in electrical resistance when the matrix is subjected to external forces like stress, strain, or cracking. The nanoparticles can be used as sensors and give real-time information about the structural condition without the need for extra monitoring equipment. This ability enables the infrastructure to identify the deteriorated areas at the first stage of the structural degradation, to mitigate the possible risks, to improve the structural safety, and to reduce the costs of manual inspection and maintenance.

Although nanomaterials have advantages in improving mechanical properties and durability of concrete and providing intelligent sensing capabilities, practical application of nanomaterials is still challenged. Economically, the high cost is a limitation. Physically, the uniform dispersion and integration of nanomaterials in the cement mortar and concrete matrix is difficult to achieve, which restricts the wide application.

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