INNOVATION IN MATERIALS

Conceived in 2004 by Mexican students, it has become a revolutionary material due to its properties. It’s a light, transparent and resistant component thanks to an additive incorporated into its composition called ilum, which allows the light to shine through up to 70%. In addition to being sustainable, it can be 2 meters thick with no distortion, it’s 15 times more resistant than conventional concrete, 30% lighter and with the additive called critum, a highly resistance concrete can be created.

Aerogel.

Also known as frozen smoke, is an innovative material similar to a gel but it’s made 90% to 98% air. Despite being a solid, it has a very low density; it is porous and an excellent thermal insulator. Even though it appears very light, it’s one thousand times denser than glass and 3 more than air. To the touch, it feels like polyethylene foam. There is a Chinese version of graphene which has the lowest density ever reached (0,16 mg/cm3).

Solar paint.

Using perovskites, scientists of the University of Sheffield, England, have created a spray which can convert any surface into a solar energy panel. This abundant material composed of calcium titanate, is a significant advance, much cheaper than silicon and with a light absorption of a micrometer.