3. Conclusions

Nanosciences, molecular engineering and experimental or numerical – investigation methods – associated with nanotechnologies are having a decisive impact on the evolution of civil engineering materials. From now on, they will be the key to improving concrete cohesion, ductility, creep resistance, durability and, more generally, carbon footprint. This is what will enable fine control – possibly by chemical, electrical or thermal stimulus – of the temporal evolution of mechanical properties, from the fluid, fresh state to the hardened state. They will also enable – and are already enabling – the formulation of bitumens, or their substitutes of plant or algal origin, to evolve into economical, self-repairing binders resistant to extreme climatic conditions. Finally, we can also count on them to develop the mineral, organic or hybrid binders of the future, with CO _2...