Nanofibers for building
The versatility of nanofibers for applications in the building industry can be demonstrated in a broad range of possible products providing easier construction, a better workplace environment and many others.
Nanofibers can be used in the following applications:
- Thermal insulation and Sound absorption
- Composite reinforcement
- Air purification, Photocatalytic filters
- Solar panels for roofs and frontage
The primary benefits of nanofibers in these applications are:
- Energy and material savings (thinner walls / lighter construction) - high absorption coefficients
- Clean energy generation
- Transparent and colored panels – attractive architecture
Acoustic nanofiber webs are materials designed to control noise. These materials absorb sound by preventing its transmission. Nanofiber sound absorbing material can be an ideal material for indoor application in concert halls, cinemas etc, where the absorption behavior needs to be optimized for a particular frequency range and where the reflection is desired to be as low as possible. These materials can also be used as noise suppressors in HVAC systems, mufflers in turbochargers, generators, air compressors and many other industrial applications, where reduction of noise is necessary.
Composite construction materials that include nanofibers integrated in a resin matrix can take advantage of the high surface area to volume ratio of nanofibers and exhibit improved mechanical properties. These composites can be incorporated as structural panels and load bearing components of a larger structure.
Nanofiber materials can be integrated into dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC), which offer unique advantages in comparison to other types of solar cells. In addition to low cost, good transparency of the DSSC allows it to be used as a window on a building and it’s flexibility offers the potential to be laminated to almost any other material. This type of solar cell can be applied to any surface accessible to light, even indirect light with a very low intensity, expanding the opportunities to use solar energy.
A cleaner working environment is possible with novel solutions for air filtration based on organic polymer nanofiber webs and photocatalytic air purification systems based on inorganic nanofiber structures. Nanofiber air filter media are utilized to purify air, which contains solid particles (viruses, dust and other ultrafine particles) liquid particles (smog, evaporated water, chemical solvents, etc.) and out-perform other filter media by low air-blowing resistance and high filtration efficiency.
