The active materials responsive to the needs of the current construction
May 10, 2011
From the energy point of view a building has a wide range of needs that have to meet. At the moment there is a type of materials, or architectures of materials that can help meet those needs. They are the active material called. Control of the transmitted solar radiation, control of thermal inertia, control of the generation of heat, power generation, optimisation of lighting, self-cleaning, monitoring and structural control systems. There are new materials and new technologies working synergistically to, since the concept of passive system, generate a clearly identified and effective active effect to each of these and other needs.
Possibly, nanotechnology and nanomaterials will stand in what could be the fourth industrial revolution. Photochromic, photoelectric materials, electrocrómicos, termocrómicos, of transformation phase, termotrópicos and fotocatalíticos. Materials fotoluminiscentes, electroluminiscentes, quimioluminiscentes, termoluminiscentes, and light emitting diodes. Materials photovoltaic, piezoelectric, piroeléctricos, memory of shape, electro and magnetorestrictivos. All materials capable of transforming the energy, and all material with capacity to participate actively in the energy efficiency of a building through passive systems.
The use of any material is the basis to begin to talk about energy efficiency. A good example of this are the materials fotocatalíticos that descontaminan our cities from their first function ventilated in a building facade or pavement in a square, so transforming the NOx into nitrates as reducing CO2 environmental. The transformation of phase (PCM) materials control thermal inertia and, therefore, the range of temperatures of well-being. If it is cold, they give heat and if it's hot, get cold. Reduce thickness, amount of material, effort at work... You have to make decisions, and to make decisions, in the table of the project must be all the tools. Mater - The FAD materials Center puts at the disposal of the project all these materials and many others which, certainly, will contribute to the effectiveness of the same.