Researchers from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow are developing a "smart paint" that uses nano technology to detect and let you know when a structure is getting weak or starting to crack.

Dr. Mohamed Saafi and David McGahon (who began this as part of his Ph.D. project) say that the paint is eco-friendly and uses fly ash (a recycled waste product) and carbon nanotubes to allow it to use sensors and have network connections that let it communicate with people. The paint is very strong and can even detect microscopic fractures in a structure, much smaller that what the human eye could see, with a very high reliability rate. The idea is the improve the ability to monitor large structures and keep them safe and structurally sound while lowering the cost of current auditing and maintenance procedures. 

For more information, check out the source article.

Source: Printed Electronics World

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