Traditional concrete can develop cracks through recurring freeze-thaw cycles over time. Cracks expand as it freezes, potentially letting water seep in further pulling it apart. Just as concrete deteriorates, steel structures do too due to inevitable corrosion. The rusted steel eventually wears the entire structure, threatening a crash if not inspected by a safety engineer. Innovations in building materials are rapidly disarming hazards posed by old materials—a British steel company patented a new form of colour-coated steel, galvanized steel, being used as additional protection against adverse environmental factors. Read more here.
Researchers have pondered whether materials could be made as such to bounce back from harsh conditions and vulnerab ...
