Nanotechnology in construction

Vocabulary

Guess the meaning of the words:

construction, titanium [tai′teiniem] dioxide [dai′oksaid], carbon, potential, ′antimi'crobial, effective, bacteria, phase, prospects, giant, effect, generate

Study the new words:

nanotube - углеродная нанотрубка (молекулярная структура, представляет собой трубки диаметром до 5 нанометров, состоящие из свернутых в кольца атомов углерода, прочнее стали и лучше металла проводят электрический ток) / allow – позволять / wash off - смыть/ ′concrete – бетон / strengthen – усилить / surface – поверхность / scratch-resistance - / self cleaning – самоочищающийся / fabric – материал / coating – грунт, шпаклёвка

Match
allow foundation wash off of the water strengthen dirt self cleaning to make progress surface filter

Pre-reading task

Answer

1. What is nanotechnology? What principle is nanotechnology based on?

2. How small is nanoparticle?

3. In what spheres is nanotechnology used? What applications do you think nanotechnologies can find in construction?

Reading

Nanomaterials are still very expensive, so they are not as popular as traditional building materials yet. But scientists are developing new materials, based on nanotechnologies.

Two nanomaterials used in construction are titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and carbon nanotubes. Titanium dioxide breaks down pollution and allows it to be washed off by rain water on everything from concrete to glass. Nanotubes strengthen concrete.

Many companies are using nanotechnology to get special characteristics for product surfaces, such as hardness and scratch-resistance. Nanotechnology also has the potential to bring antimicrobial properties to surfaces. In 2007, research from Yale University found that carbon nanotubes were effective at killing some bacteria.

Now the application of nanotechnologies in construction is still at the research phase. But the prospects of such application are really huge. Scientists say that nanotechnology will have a giant effect on building, it will help to get new and novel applications, from self cleaning roads and fabrics to electricity generating coatings.

Correct false sentences

1. Nanomaterials are not widely used because they are not efficient.

2. Nanotubes make glass properties much better.

3. Nanotechnologies can help to improve the design of different surfaces.

4. Different applications of nanotechnologies have already been put into practice.

Render the contents of the text in six / four / three sentences

Discussion

1. In my opinion the most important and useful invention of recent time is …

2. I am sure scientific progress does more harm than good…

3. I think nanotechnologies in construction can solve some problems…

4. I suppose further progress in science and technology will greatly affect such spheres as…