application of nanotechnology in civil engineering

word nano is a word derived from greek dwarf which means a billionth part. nanotechnology is a sector of science that discuss about materials and their properties in nano scale. by this technology phenomena that are not possible in normal or micro scale can be happen in nano size. one of the sectors that have significant effect on is civil engineering and especially materials used at this area. adding nano particles to materials mixtures like concrete or using new nano particles in production of materials will lead to change engineering properties of them. new nano particles like nano-silica, nano carbons, nano fibers, nano titanium dioxide are some examples of these nano particles used for getting to new materials. these properties can be listed as increasing strength, durability, resistance in front of fire or heat conductivity or new materials with self-cleaning property. although nanotechnology is to some extent new field of study in comparison with other fields, but it is growing very fast and the results of these technology is clear in all areas especially in construction materials.