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The Discovery FilesSmart cement!
NSF-funded engineers at Northwestern University are developing materials resilient enough to weather the forces of nature. This includes introducing nanoparticles into the manufacture of cement, making it smarter, more durable, tougher, and highly functional. They are manufacturing "smart cement." Learn more with NSF's "The Discovery Files."
Credit: National Science Foundation
Smart cement!
Hi! I'm Mo Barrow with The Discovery Files, from NSF -- the U.S. National Science Foundation.Another road is under construction!
The United Nations predicts that, by 2050, two-thirds of the world's population will live in cities. That's a lot of roads and buildings, a lot of concrete, and cement, a key concrete ingredient!
The environment can be tough on the materials used to build roads and houses, ice and snow turning highways into rubble, epic storms ravaging homes.
No worries! NSF-funded engineers at Northwestern University are developing materials resilient enough to weather the forces of nature. These include "smart cement."
"What's that" you say? "Smart Cement?"
That's right! The team is introducing nanoparticles into the manufacture of cement, making it smarter, more durable, tougher, and highly functional.
Nanomaterials reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. Why is this important?
Concrete is the most widely consumed material around the world, accounting for 8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, a number that's rising.
In the future, that tower going up downtown, skirting the clouds, might make the air a bit cleaner. Our roads too will be more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient.
Discover how the U.S. National Science Foundation is advancing research at nsf.gov.
"The discovery files" covers projects funded by the government's National Science Foundation. Federally sponsored research -- brought to you, by you! Learn more at nsf.gov or on our podcast.
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