A discussion on building technology in the 1980s - The contribution of the materials scientist

Abstract

Some examples are given of recent innovation in building materials which show that the common impression that there is little innovation is false. There has been, however, a conservative attitude, and design has to some extent been hampered by the need to choose materials from the existing catalogue. The pace of innovation is likely to be accelerated in the future by two trends: specification by performance and the emergence of teaching and research in materials science. Current research and applications in the fields of cement and concrete, glass technology, metals, plastics and surface coatings are mentioned by way of illustration and an estimate of future progress is made.