What everyone should know about graphene and engineered wood

For today's blog, Reddy Kancharla looks at two innovations in construction. These advanced building materials are graphene and engineered wood.

Graphene

Construction materials are getting an upgrade to include graphene, the wonder material that is also being used in energy storage devices. As a result, several companies are looking into making graphene-based construction materials for buildings.

Graphene-based construction materials provide many benefits, including strength, high thermal conductivity, lightness, and low cost. All these make graphene an ideal material for construction materials.

Graphene is very strong. Graphene-based construction materials are the strongest ones in the market, with some beams having a breaking strength of 130 GPa. This is confined to beams and includes other components like nuts and bolts with considerably high strength properties.

Engineered Wood

Engineered wood is built around an inner core of lumber, produced specifically for building projects. The core is then covered on both sides with an outer layer of plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), or another suitable material.

Engineers design engineered wood by considering the structure, including factors like how much weight it will carry and how long it will carry the weight; the conditions of the environment in which it will be used; and the intended purpose, such as whether it will need to meet fire ratings.

Engineered wood is stronger than regular lumber and can span greater distances between supports. It's also less expensive than traditional millwork materials like solid hardwood, veneers, or plywood.

Its environmental footprint is lower, too, Reddy Kancharla adds.

Reddy Kancharla has more than 25 years of experience in civil and geotechnical engineering and construction. Know more about him and his work by clicking on this link.