The construction and mining industry are always trying to find and develop new materials that could make their operations easier, safer, and more cost-effective. There’s also increasing pressure on both industries to produce more sustainable results. Many of these materials are already being used in the field and more should come over the next few years for miners and builders. Let’s take a look at some materials that could revolutionize the construction and mining industry.
Shotcrete
Shotcrete is a form of concrete that can be sprayed. It can be used in a variety of ways, such as fortifying tunnels quickly when mining, and it can be used in construction for repairs. What makes it so valuable for mining is that it can easily be applied on overhead surfaces and can adapt itself to complex shapes, which is often the case when tunneling in mines.
Invisible Solar Cells
The future of solar technology is very promising, and we’re seeing more discrete solar material cells and panels. Scientists have developed transparent solar cells, also known as transparent photovoltaic devices, that can use the invisible light in the UV spectrum to create energy.
We’re also seeing a rise in integrated building photovoltaic products. One of these is solar shingles. These allow homeowners to get all the benefits of solar energy without taking away from the home’s aesthetics. Companies such Advantage Construction are already using this technology and we can expect many others to follow as demand is growing for sustainable energy.
Self-Healing Materials
One of the most interesting advancements in the field is self-healing materials. Cement is the most common application for this technology. Scientists have found a way to inject living spores into the concrete to give it the ability to fix cracks itself.
The technique involves minuscule water-permeable capsules that can be integrated into wet concrete. Once it has dried, the spores stay in the pockets in suspended animation. Think of it as packets of dry yeast. Once a crack is formed and filled with water, the spores are activated and produce a calcium carbonate named calcite, which can be found in limestone and marble. It is this byproduct that will fill the crack and solidify to prevent it from growing any further.
This is another material that can be used in the construction and fortification of miner tunnels. It would allow mining and construction companies to create structures that require less maintenance. It could also be used in civil projects like bridges, for instance.
The amount of money that could be saved by using this technology is still hard to calculate, as is its impact on carbon emissions. The cost of producing self-healing materials is still very high, but once it comes down, we can expect to see it being used in all sorts of applications.
These are just a few examples of materials that could revolutionize the way mining companies and construction companies approach projects. They could help keep mine costs to a minimum and reduce their carbon footprint as well in many cases.
