In this paper we discuss the market potential for smart materials in the construction space. Various smart materials, coatings and surfaces are addressed along with market sizes
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White Paper: Smart Materials in the Construction Sector
1. An n-tech Research White Paper
Smart Materials in the Construction Sector
Issue date: November 2015
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Smart Materials in the Construction Sector
1 Why Smart Materials in Construction Make Sense
Smart materials, surfaces and coatings that respond to external stimuli to deliver specific
“intelligent” functions—self-dimming, self-healing, self-cleaning, etc.—are increasingly
being adopted across major industries. Among those n-tech Research views with the
highest commercial potential is construction, both because many of them fit well across
several building applications, and because immense surfaces are involved.
Numerous products with such smart materials functionalities already are commercially
available, from self-dimming and self-cleaning glass to self-healing paints and
antimicrobial coatings. We expect further penetration of such products and capabilities—
and especially their evolution into products combining complementary smart functions,
such as self-cleaning smart windows.
In this white paper we analyze the different use cases and motivations for adopting smart
materials in construction and buildings, defining where, why, and when these
technologies and products will present revenue opportunities in this market.
1.1 Use Cases: Here and Now, Where and How
Many types of smart surfaces and coatings have clear or arguable value in the context of
buildings, whether functional or aesthetic, and sometimes both:
Self-dimming windows contribute to energy efficiency and occupant comfort
Cleaner windows allow in more light, and need less frequent cleaning
Electricity generation (PV) on glass, façades, and roofing can offset some—in
some cases, all—of a building's power use
Self-healing coatings on various surfaces promise extended lifetimes and reduced
maintenance
Antimicrobial and self-cleaning surfaces address concerns of hygiene
Color-shifting surfaces offer aesthetic appeal
Exhibit 1 outlines some potential uses for smart coatings in construction markets.
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Exhibit 1: Potential Applications for Smart Coatings and Surfaces in the Building
Construction Markets
Property
Companies/Research
Organizations
Product/Solution Potential Benefits Current Status
Active
self-
dimming
SAGE (now part of
Saint-Gobain), View
Metal oxide/metallic
coatings on glass
surfaces
Self-tinting windows
with tinting functionality
triggered by external
stimuli; expected to
experience increased
demand in the future
Commercially
available
Self-
cleaning
Saint-Gobain (BioClean),
Cardinal Glass (Neat)
Coated glass with
self-cleaning
properties
UV-activated coating
surface that
decomposes organic
dirt molecules and
prevents others from
sticking to the glass
surface
Commercially
available
Self-
cleaning
Balcony Systems
Solutions Ltd. (U.K.)
Double-sided
hydrophobic
coatings on glass
Hydrophobic coatings
ward off dust; available
in a convenient do-it-
yourself (DIY) format
Commercially
available
Self-
healing
National Research
Foundation of Korea
Self-healing
coatings for
concrete
Good potential of a
novel concept; sunlight
exposure controls the
release of sealants
embedded in the
coating to seal cracks
Yet to be
commercialized
Color-
shifting
Valspar (Kameleon),
PPG (Duranar), Alpolic,
Alcoa
Pigments and flake
paints that
passively change
colors based on
ambient light and
viewing angles
Invoke a visual
branding message, or
comforting aesthetic
environment e.g. warm
and shifting tones
Commercially
available
Source: n-tech Research
Importantly to suppliers—buildings offer large surface areas, so even niche use cases
can require a lot of materials. This represents opportunities both in traditional building
materials (glass, tile, concrete, etc.), increasingly in plastics and polymers, as well as
coatings applied to those surfaces.
One big hurdle to smart materials' proliferation is a clear need to improve many of these
technologies' performance, most especially with durability and lifetimes—although some
of them are quite close to where they need to be, as we discuss below. In the meantime,
we think suppliers of such materials (coatings and surfaces), must embrace new kinds of
messaging around their products, emphasizing benefits of comfort and aesthetics.
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2 Market Traction: Smart Materials' Evolution in Building Products
2.1 Self-Dimming "Smart" Windows
Self-dimming "smart" windows change light transmission properties in response to
voltage, allowing better control over the amount of light and heat passing through them.
For the average residence, that translates to increased comfort (less intense sunlight
means cooler rooms) and energy efficiency benefits. For larger commercial buildings
those improvements can be dramatic, especially paired with new levels of control and
responsiveness.
Control for active smart-dimming windows is provided mainly by electronics. We can
envision, eventually, smart coated glass being replaced by an active smart surface, more
responsive than passive self-dimming windows and at a lower cost than active self-
dimming coatings.
2.1.1 Technology and Supplier Status
At the moment electrochromic (EC) glass and film is the technology of choice and we
don’t see that changing much in the near term, despite other options jostling for position
such as thermochromic, photochromic, and suspended particle device (SPD). On the
other hand, no manufacturers (or technology) have established a strong enough lead as
yet to constitute a significant barrier to entry.
Sage Electrochromics (part of Saint-Gobain) and View are two market leaders with
installations in various commercial buildings around the world; other firms are also active
in and moving into the space, such as Research Frontiers (RFI) and Pleotint.
The presence of very large glass firms bodes well for future development (and funding)
in this space, although to date these firms have pursued various roles and levels of
involvement. In n-tech’s view, the role of specialty chemical firms has been surprisingly
circumscribed; we think most will bide their time until this market fully matures before
supporting any one kind of materials platform.
2.1.2 n-tech's Take
Smart windows have yet to take off in any big way, partly due to challenges in retrofitting
and the prohibitive cost of rolling out large-scale production of smart coating materials.
In n-tech's view, smart windows materials in buildings are poised to become a sizeable
market—but this will depend upon embracing strategies that combine relatively mature
smart windows technologies and consumer-friendly messaging. We note that smart
windows suppliers lately have shifted their attention from technical matters to marketing
efforts, which suggests that early technical issues have been fixed or at least ameliorated.
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depositing PV materials onto various substrates used in building components (glass, tile,
metal, concrete) as a "smart" material option for windows, walls/façades, and roofing.
Heliatek, for example, is not only developing BIPV for glass and façades, it's also working
with German company Reckli to merge organic PV films with concrete structures.
2.2.2 Prestige, and Beyond
Prestige buildings have long been the target market for BIPV; design is central to these
buildings, and owners and architects typically desire to make a stylistic statement above
considerations of costs. In our view, BIPV's best chance to break out of this niche and
take off commercially is for vendors to emphasize not just energy generation or energy
efficiency, but the aesthetics and even the "smarts" of BIPV. This will allow them to do
just that, especially in the U.S., Germany, Japan and China, where the demand for solar
panels is already large.
This depends upon crafting a supply chain to move BIPV down-market to systems
integrators, construction firms, installers and retailers which leaves architects out of the
picture. We are already seeing examples of the latter, notably from Dow and Hanergy.
Messaging the multifunctionality of BIPV also will be important, a theme we will address
later in this paper.
2.2.3 n-tech’s View: Roofing Now, Glass Later
As we discuss in our recent report, "BIPV Technologies and Markets: 2015-2022" (August
2015), initial expectations of monolithically integrated BIPV arriving by 2017 might be a
little optimistic, as much depends on the promised progress in some of the
aforementioned non-silicon PV technologies. BIPV roofing as still the largest segment of
this market throughout our forecast period, although we expect significant growth in both
glass and walling applications. For monolithic and multifunctional BIPV, however, we see
the real opportunities in the glass sector in particular.
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photocatalysis (TiO2), to help prevent buildup of organic material and proactively
neutralize it in the surrounding environment, with just occasional rainwater to finish the
job.
For interior use, arguments for self-cleaning involve contributing to a (real or perceived)
level of cleanliness, or convenience of avoiding some manual cleaning routines—neither
of which is as compelling as the case for windows, or even external surfaces. Likely use
cases will be heavily used surfaces in high-traffic environments, such as counters, door
handles, bathroom and kitchen areas, etc.
2.3.2 Biggest Need: Better Performance
Self-cleaning functionalities whether glass or non-glass will require a leap forward in
technology and functionality of efficiency, durability, and longevity to take them to the next
stage and address mass markets. The way forward is to make coatings more effective,
i.e. "superhydrophobic." Even more important, however, is making such coatings and
surfaces more durable to mechanical stresses and abrasions, and making them last
longer either between applications—or not needing them at all.
Alcoa advises against power-washing its metal panels, for example, which we believe
reduces the addressable market for such products. And until lifetimes for self-cleaning
glass are the same as for regular IGUs, it is unlikely to break out of its niche in the
residential building sector and make serious inroads into the commercial sector.
2.3.3 Market Forecast: Sky’s the Limit
As outlined in greater depth in our report, "Markets for Self-Cleaning Coatings and
Surfaces: 2015-2022" (October 2015), we think that while this market is already
established, we also expect this to grow to be quite sizeable by the end of the forecast
period given the overall size of the addressable market.
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Exhibit 2 outlines some of these use cases for antimicrobial coatings in buildings. These
are all areas where antimicrobial coatings already find use, and where some additional
smart antimicrobial functionality might be of particular use.
Exhibit 2: Opportunities for Smart Antimicrobial Coatings in Buildings
Application Business Case Examples
Public buildings
Surfaces and equipment,
heavily handled or in high-
traffic areas
Kiosks, railings, furniture, door
handles/panels
Commercial
buildings
Equipment and items in
common areas
Flooring, counters, highly-used items
(e.g. hotel TV remotes), HVAC
Residential
buildings
Items and surfaces involving
humidity and sanitation
Bathroom and kitchen accessories,
counters, shower enclosures, flooring, air
filters
Source: n-tech Research
2.5.1 Hidden Dangers and the Ick Factor
One use case for antimicrobials in buildings is to target inaccessible or hidden areas
wherein biological contaminants (bacteria, molds, pollens and viruses) can breed, but
cleaning protocols and reapplication are essentially not feasible. This involves ducts,
humidifiers, attics, cellars, and crawlspaces, and even building materials themselves
(walls, ceiling tiles, insulation, and carpeting).
That said, we believe that one area where a smart antimicrobial should find a lot of appeal
among builders is in smart antifungals that target molds, which is a huge issue in
construction. The case is not only about degradation of materials, but there's a significant
health risk attached to mold growth which ups the ante. Builders will pay a premium for
smart antifungals that target the most threatening molds.
Alternatively, lots of products now include descriptions of antibacterial coatings and
surfaces as part of their feature list, mainly appealing to consumers' repugnancy and
distaste of (real or imagined) contamination and unknown dirtiness. Many antimicrobials
have gone this route; Microban is the most well-known, marketed within more than 1,000
products.
2.5.2 Prognosis: Uncertain
n-tech's view is that acceptance of smart antimicrobials in most building contexts will rely
on marketing strategies showing that a particular smart antimicrobial is more potent than
a conventional "dumb" equivalent. Life Materials, for example, has pitched its technology
in the past for "sick building syndrome."
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2.6.2 Walls Inside and Out: Delivering a Message
Color-shifting paints, siding, wall treatments, etc. are likely to find traction primarily for
prestige buildings where visual statements are appreciated and owners will pay extra for
it. Adding such a unique visual effect could elicit a kind of corporate branding—a company
wants to be associated with being dynamic, for example—or provide pleasing aesthetics
of warmly shifting colors in, say, an office lobby. Note that a lot of paint might be used in
such applications.
Technologies for color-shifting wall and roof coatings have been almost exclusively
pigments and flake paints that passively change colors based on ambient light and
viewing angles. Suppliers include Valspar PPG, Alcoa, and Alpolic (Mitsubishi Plastics
Composites America). Other options for walls include embedded lighting, and even
electrophoretic/e-ink—an intriguing technology desperately seeking alternative end-
markets besides dwindling e-paper displays.
2.6.3 Outlook: Life Beyond Prestige Projects
Color-shifting paints can cost 20 percent more than a regular fluoropolymer finish.
Customers need to gauge whether a mostly—perhaps purely—aesthetic feature is worth
it, especially for exteriors where a lot of the paint might be used.
The big strategic issue here is the same as with smart windows and BIPV: how to move
beyond the prestige market? The best solution is to expand the functionality of color-
shifting, producing and marketing such surfaces as having practical use and not just
aesthetic merit. For example, color-shifting exterior walls might be said to serve to
enhance energy efficiency, and therefore have some value in the sustainable construction
market.
We further discuss the opportunities and market drivers for color-shifting materials in our
August 2015 report, "Color Shifting Materials Market Opportunities: 2015-2022." We are
quite optimistic that this will become quite a large-sized business by the end of our eight-
year forecast period.
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3.2 Interior Walls and Surfaces: A Stronger Case for Cleanliness
Materials that are both self-cleaning and anti-microbial can make a more compelling
argument for building surfaces that have heavy use and where cleanliness is a primary
concern: door handles/panels, counters, railings, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, etc.
Adding self-cleaning or self-healing would further prevent buildup of dirt and pathogens
as well as protect damaged areas where they might collect.
Several firms are already offering flooring materials that also function as “air purifiers,”
and it is easy to see how these could be extended to anti-microbial action. This
combination is especially important in contemporary airtight buildings, such as those
specified for zero-energy construction.
3.3 Exteriors: Clean and Heal Thyselves
The obvious opportunity for multi-functional concrete and cement is to combine self-
healing and self-cleaning functionalities on a concrete substrate. This represents a
technologically realistic direction for R&D, although currently we are not seeing much
activity in this space.
One also can easily imagine multifunctional building panels that are self-cleaning, self-
healing and have PV capabilities, for example. This takes us back to our previous
discussion about BIPV, where the theoretical idea is a panel that is a true hybrid between
PV and a tile or shingle made from a solar material; or, alternatively, organic films affixed
to glass or other substrates (e.g. Heliatek and Reckli concrete).
3.4 Outlooks for Multifunctional Smart Materials
Although there will certainly be technical challenges, the main challenges to
multifunctional smart coatings in this sector is likely to be price. While the cost of
multifunctional coatings for the construction industry are likely to decline, we also think it
is likely that suppliers will have to emphasize impressive price performance/ratios to gain
market acceptance.
Moreover, multifunctional smart materials in the glass sector can leverage the existing
smart windows sector, there is little by comparison in other parts of the smart building
products space.
4 Summary: A Multi-Faceted Future for Smart Materials in Buildings
In summary, smart materials and coatings are expanding their footprint in the buildings
and construction sector, thanks to improvements both in terms of technology and
performance/lifetimes. Moreover, suppliers are refining their product messaging to
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emphasize the aesthetic appeal of smart materials and the value of that appeal—because
in some cases that may be the main selling point for the foreseeable future.
Ultimately, n-tech Research believes both functional and aesthetic value will be delivered
through value-added multifunctional smart materials, complementary combinations that
can address specific use cases in buildings, such as monolithic smart windows for
building efficiency and control, building-integrated PV for visually appealing electricity
generation, or multi-tiered strategies to fight unseen hazards of mold.
Smart Materials Market Research and Analysis from n-tech Research
Multifunctional Smart Coatings and Surfaces: 2016-2023
Markets for Metamaterials 2016-2023
Markets for Shape Memory Alloys and Polymers: 2016-2023
Hydrophobic Coatings and Surfaces: 2016-2023
Smart Textiles Markets 2016-2023
Markets for Smart Composites: 2015 to 2022
Markets for Self-Cleaning Coatings and Surfaces: 2015 to 2022
Color-Shifting Materials Market Opportunities – 2015 to 2022
Markets for Smart Antimicrobial Coatings and Surfaces – 2015 to 2022
Smart Windows Materials Markets 2015-2022
Smart Coatings Markets: An Emerging Opportunity
Markets for Self-Healing Materials: 2015–2022
Smart Mirrors Technologies and Markets, 2015-2022
Smart Surfaces Markets 2015-2022
Smart Coatings Markets 2015-2022
Electrochromic Glass and Film Markets – 2014-2021
Smart Clothing Markets: Opportunities for Sensors and Smart Materials
See more at www.ntechresearch.com
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Acronyms and Abbreviations Used In this White Paper
BIPV Building-integrated Photovoltaics
EC Electrochromic
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System
IP Intellectual Property
PV Photovoltaic
SPD Suspended Particle Device
TiO2 Titanium Dioxide
UV Ultraviolet