3D Printing and Self-Healing Materials.
Technology moves fast, and it’s moving increasingly faster as time goes on. Consider that it took 2.4 million years for mankind to control fire and use it for cooking, but only 66 years to go from the first flight to humans landing on the moon. Now, look around you. Chances are you have a smartphone nearby—you may even be reading this on a smartphone—but as recently as 2007, that would’ve been impossible. The first smartphone—iPhone I—didn’t debut until the end of June 2007. Feeling old?
Now, you may think that other industries are more impacted by the relentless march of technology: driverless cars, manufacturing robots, AI-driven research. But roofing is not immune. In this three-part series, we’ll touch on a few things that could be commonplace in the roofing trade sooner than you think.
3D Printing
3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD or digital 3D model. In the 1980s, 3D printing techniques were used primarily only to produce functional or aesthetic prototypes. Think “rapid prototyping.” By 2019, however, the precision, repeatability, and material range of 3D printing increased to the point that some 3D printing processes became viable as an industrial-production technology. They could produce very complex shapes or geometries that would be otherwise infeasible to construct by hand, including hollow parts or parts with internal truss structures to reduce weight while creating less material waste.
Could this technology find its way into roofing? Absolutely. 3D printers capable of constructing entire houses, including their roofs, are being developed as you read this. In fact, they’ve already produced an entirely 3D-printed house, printed in concrete. What could that do to the possibilities for design and customization in roofing? Roofs no longer bound by traditional shapes and materials? You can bet on it.
Self-Healing Materials
Roofs must perform in a variety of harsh environments. They are exposed to the elements 24/7/365, without a break. That kind of wear and tear adds up. As a result, maintenance is vital to ensure the roof doesn’t become compromised. Extensive damage including granule loss, cracks, water penetration, and UV degradation will diminish a roof’s performance. That’s where self-healing materials can help.
Made from thermoplastics, self-healing shingles allow for the roof itself to continuously repair small-scale scratches and wear. As the shingles heat up during the day, polymers in the thermoplastics separate, which create new bonds as the shingle cools down. This “heals” small scratches or damage to the shingle itself. Experts say that while this process can’t prevent significant damage or make the roof immune to weather conditions, it’s an exciting step towards slowing down the natural erosion of roofing elements.
Roofing has evolved tremendously over time. Early roofing relied on natural materials like animal hides, mud, and vegetation. Greece and Babylon used flat earthenware roof tiles between 4,000 and 5,000 years ago. The Romans brought variations of the Greek clay tiles to England as early as 100 BC. Around 735 AD, thatched roofs were developed and used. Wood shingles were introduced 300 years later. Today, we’re seeing a whirlwind of technological advances that are impacting roofing and will have a profound effect on our industry in the years to come. Our advice: pay attention and be ready.
This is the first of a three-part series. Next up: smart roofing and cool roofing. In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about the best ventilation and accessories for roofs available today, visit www.MarcoIndustries.com. To contact Marco directly, you can email or call 1-800-800-8590.
