Nanotechnology Applications and Markets
Sunday, November 28th, 2010
Nanostructured Coatings: Coatings need varied types of properties depending on the places they are used. Exceptional hardness, excellent adhesion to the substrate, very high fracture toughness and oxidation/corrosion resistance, and thermal stability are examples of properties desired in coatings. In normal circumstances, one material might not have all the desired properties needed in a particular context. It is here that nanostructuring can help modify existing properties and create coatings with all the desired properties.
Nanocomposites: It has been found that when dissimilar materials are mixed at nanometer scale, new and improved properties often result compared to mixing them at macro levels. As a result, they promise new applications such a lightweight reinforced mechanical components, non-linear optics, sensors and more. Application areas include aerospace, automotive and plastics, for example.
Nanofibers have applications in air/water filtration and textiles. Nanoclays have applications in packaging, cosmetics and toiletries, and flame retardant materials.
As would be clear from the above, even at these preliminary levels, nanotechnology has numerous applications. A Nanotechnology Market Research Report looks at the varied types of products, production methods, market structures, market drivers, market players and revenues under each major application, and also includes estimated demand to 2015.
Tags: nanocoatings, nanocomposites, nanomaterials, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology is not Nanoparticles
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
Nanotechnology is a technology with an ambitious goal, the goal of working at molecular and atomic levels to construct new materials with properties tailored to meet specific needs. For example, we might produce a material for making airplane wings that has the ability and flexibility to respond like birds’ wings to flying conditions. Nanotech can also involve adding new properties to existing materials using the same fundamental processes.
Nanoparticles, on the other hand, are simply chemicals that have been reduced to a size of less than 100 nanometers. These particles might have unique applications not possible when the materials are at normal or even micron size. However, creating nanoparticles is not real nanotechnology; rather it is simply a more sophisticated “grinding” process that reduces the particle size.
Nanoparticles have been used in all kinds of products including sunscreens, paints, surface coatings, clothing, industrial catalysts, cleaning agents, and much more. Their use has given new characteristics to specific products, such as self-cleaning glass and invisible sunscreens. Use of nanoparticles has also given rise to apprehensions, such as those caused by the invisibly small particles in sunscreens permeating the skin and entering internal systems.
Uses of nanoparticles as above are presently the most visible of nano-applications. However, that does not make them true nanotechnology, which has to go a long way before it achieves its potential.
Tags: nanoparticle, nanotech, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology: Hype and Reality
Wednesday, October 27th, 2010
The discovery of buckminsterfullerene molecule in 1985 by three professors (of Rice and Sussex universities) led to the development of nanotechnology. The molecule, known as buckyball, is a carbon molecule with 60 carbon atoms, visualized as a closed cage with hexagonal and pentagonal structures resembling the Buckminster Fuller Dome displayed at the Montreal Expo 67.
The C60 molecule has one free electron and is a nanoscale structure. This makes the molecule electrically active and useful in nanotechnology. In fact, nanotechnology can be said to have emerged as a result of the numerous developments related to the buckyball.
Nanotechnology is still a technology that is far from realizing its potential. For example, molecular-level manufacture, where you create custom molecules by assembling atoms in desired ways, is reportedly a minimum of ten years away from actualization. What we are seeing at present is only incremental improvements to existing products.
There is also the issue of risks posed by nanomaterials. The invisibly small nanoscale materials can not only permeate skin to reach and possibly harm internal organs but also cause harm through the completely different properties they exhibit compared to their normal scale versions. For example, materials that are non-toxic in normal state can become toxic when reduced to nano-scale in size.
Regulatory agencies of governments have not yet been able to come up with effective policies that ensure safety while also permitting fast technology development.
Read about the issues at IndustryWeek
Tags: buckyball, molecular manufacture, nanomaterials, nanotech safety issues, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology: The importance of Considering Risks as well as Benefits
Friday, October 22nd, 2010
Nanotechnology is more about the size of the materials involved rather than a particular scientific domain. It deals with materials at nanoscale, i.e. materials measured in nanometers (nm) or one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology generally deals with materials of less than 100nm, typically molecules and atoms.
Needless to say, materials at this size are invisible to the eye and even to traditional microscopes. It needs powerful new types of devices such as Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) to observe materials at nanoscale. The ability to modify nano-materials was gained only during the last quarter of a century.
Nanotechnology has applications in various sciences, such as healthcare, medical, agricultural and other. It has been touted as a technology that can provide solutions to many problems facing poor countries. It is argued that energy generation, disease prevention and water purification could all be more effective and less expensive through nanotech.
For example, unclean water leads to some 6000 deaths in poor countries. Using electro statically charged nanoparticles, the contaminants in the water could be removed, for example. With such promises, few countries dare question the need for nanotech use.
However, the risks of this technology are also great. At nanoscale, properties of materials change and normally non-toxic materials can become toxic. Another problem that can affect poor countries is the disappearance of demand for their commodities, such as cotton and various minerals.
If nanotech can enable creating these synthetically at comparable costs, demand for the natural commodities can come down, affecting the livelihood of large sections of poor country population.
Risks such as the above are serious enough for countries to prohibit the import and use of manufactured nanomaterials.
Read a detailed discussion on Nanotechnology and Africa at Pambazuka News.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology, risks from nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology: The Tempting and Intriguing Technology
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010
Working with atoms and molecules, nanotechnology offers the prospect of creating entirely new materials (rather than products) giving humans a power similar to what we instinctively attribute to God. However, working at levels where the materials we work with can permeate to our internal organs, including bloodstreams and brains, the technology also poses unknown risks. The risks are not only to humans but also other living organisms and even the entire environment.
Despite potentially serious dangers, the technology tempts us with the promise of custom-made materials and solutions to presently insoluble problems. The technology works across many sectors, including medicine, consumer and industrial products, energy and environment. We already have self-cleaning glass, anti-bacterial wound dressings and invisible sunscreens, for example. The sunscreen application also illustrates potential dangers; the material has reportedly permeated into the bloodstream and the cosmetic industry seems to have decided upon a self-imposed ban on nanotech cosmetics.
It is in this context that people and governments are reluctant to proceed full-speed ahead with this promising technology. Generally, they want all developments to be vetted for potential side effects and regulations made to ensure safety of researchers, workers and consumers. All those with public interest in mind want the industry to proceed cautiously.
Read about the proceedings of the symposium on Nanotechnology: Risks and Opportunities organized at Lucerne, Switzerland, by the International Social Security Association.
Tags: nanotechnology issues
Posted in health risks, nanomaterials, nanotechnology | 1 Comment »
Nanotechnology for Checking Freshness of Produce
Monday, October 4th, 2010
The standard approach to warn consumers about “Use By” dates is to print the expiry date on the label. However, consumers often fail to read the printed dates and consume expired products.
Nanotechnology comes to the rescue of such consumers now with a display that can clearly indicate that the produce is NOT FRESH. A metallized plastic film with a ten nanometer aluminum layer and 2 nanometer oxide layer does the job. The original display is FRESH, which turns into NOT FRESH when both the layers are destroyed.
By selecting suitable materials, the display can be tailor made to do different tasks, all dependent on expiry of time. When the nanostructures on the plastic film are destroyed, the part of the message that is hidden earlier becomes visible. Typical applications include:
* When a product needs to be sterilized, an originally blank screen displays STERILIZED after required sterilization period
* Self expiring visitor badges on which the VALID message gets transformed into NOT VALID after allowed visiting period
* Packages or sealing tapes that display DO NOT SHIP after expiry period so that the packages need not be opened before shipping
By combining with RFID, remote monitoring also becomes possible.
Read more about Nano-Cnversion technology at http://www.nanoconvertology.com/.
Tags: expiry indication, nanotech applications, nanotechnology
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Fuel Cells: Significance and Markets
Monday, September 13th, 2010
Fuel cells can theoretically provide energy for everything from running a power plant to running your computer. And they provide it with high efficiency, low emissions and quietly, with the byproducts being heat and water, not carbon dioxide. It is no wonder that governments, businesses and academic institutions are working towards producing this green source of energy.
In essence, a fuel cell combines hydrogen and oxygen to make water, and generates electricity in the process. And unlike a battery, the chemicals needed for a fuel cell, viz. hydrogen and oxygen, do not get exhausted all that easily. What this means is that the fuel cell is not likely to go dead, unlike the battery.
Fuel cell technologies come in different varieties such as PEMFC, SOFC, AFC, MCFC, PAFC and DMFC. Some are more suited for one purpose while others are best in other contexts, such as transportation systems, large power plants and stationary power generators.
Honda’s concept car based on fuel cells has a reported energy efficiency of 60 percent, i.e. 60 percent of the energy that goes in comes out in the form of moving the car. Compare this to the 20 percent efficiency of the fossil fuel burning car, where most of the energy is wasted as heat and for powering incidentals.
Though a battery-powered electric car has an efficiency of 72 percent, the battery has to be charged using AC power, which has a low efficiency, and the charging process itself causes some loss of efficiency. Compared to the 60 percent overall efficiency of the fuel cell, the net battery efficiency is just 26 percent.(See How Fuel Cells Work).
The research report Fuel Cell Technologies Worldwide provides insights into the end user markets for fuel cells and also the various technologies used for making fuel cells.
Tags: energy efficiency, fuel cell technology, green energy, nanotechnology
Posted in business, clean technology, energy efficiency, energy generation, environment, innovation, nanomaterials, renewable energy | No Comments »
Planes that Mimic Birds
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Planes that Mimic Birds
Aerospace vehicles are currently designed for specific missions, such as space flight, reconnaissance, interdiction and aerial combat. A vehicle designed for one mission will typically have serious constraints for executing other missions. Researchers have been looking at ways to design multi-mission capable vehicles.
The solution of variable sweep wings is an example of a preliminary solution to the problem. The wings change shape to meet changing requirements, trying to mimic birds in flight. However, the existing solution is only a primitive one compared to the birds’ solution.
Things might change dramatically with the new morphing metal technology. Nanotechnology can theoretically work at molecular levels and change the properties of the building blocks of materials. Doing this “on-the-go”, adapting to changes in pressure or temperature for example, can make the materials almost “living materials.”
Wings made of such materials could then unfurl, bend and shape themselves to changing demands, just as bird wings do in flight. Such wings will be able to avoid aerodynamic destabilization caused by varying flight conditions.
Once such morphing technology has been mastered, it will be possible to design air vehicles that can be used for multiple roles, say from passenger or cargo carriage to aerial warfare.
Read the speculative report at Center for Intelligence News Study.
Tags: air vehicles, changing material properties, nanotechnology
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology | 1 Comment »
Nanofiber from Cellulose: Keynote Topic at Nanotech Conference
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Nanofibers have a diameter of 100 nanometers or less. Textiles and filters made of nanofibers have better functionality compared to traditional materials. The potential for their applications are wide, as a few illustrative examples below show:
* Medical applications in tissue engineering and artificial organs
* Protective masks against chemical and biological attacks
* Textile applications for different kinds of specialized apparel, including baby diapers
* Filters used in different industries and systems
* Napkins with antibodies against biohazards
Nanofibers can potentially be made to assemble at injury sites and also to self-braid, making them ideas in certain applications.
Nanofibers can be made from different materials, both organic and inorganic. Carbon nanofibers, “ceramic” nanofibers from materials such as silicon dixide and nanofibers from cellulose are examples.
The 2010 International Conference on Nanotechnology for the Forest Products Industry to be held during September 27-29, 2010 at the Dipoli Congress Centre in Espoo, Finland. The conference, which has the theme “Getting Down to Business with Nanotech Products” will have a keynote presentation from Dr. Hiroyuki Yano on the “Potential of Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Materials.” Dr. Yano is a Professor at the Research Institute of Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, who received a Ph.D. in wood science from the university in 1989.
Read the conference announcement at TAPPI website.
Tags: nanofiber, nanotech conference, nanotechnology
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Nanotechnology Risks: A Canadian Government Discussion
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Nanoparticles are particles of matter that are at atomic and molecular levels. Working at these levels, you can modify the characteristics of materials and even develop materials tailored to specific needs. Nanotechnology is an emerging technology whose risks are not completely known. Cases have been reported about nanoparticles used in cosmetics entering the users’ bloodstreams.
The Standing Committee on Health of the Canadian House of Commons produced a document titled Evidence that reported the discussion of a session on understanding nanotechnology, meant for the members of the committee. The discussions focused on the risks posed by the new technology.
The Director, Research and Expertise Support Department, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Mr.Ostiguy, explained that over 1000 products containing nanoparticles are presently available in the market.
He continued that the production processes posed the greatest risks to the workers carrying these out. This group included researchers who develop new products, employees in companies that synthesize the nanoparticles and employees of companies that introduce nanoparticles into their production lines for value addition purposes.
IRSST has researched current scientific knowledge about the risks posed by nanoparticles.
Read the discussion on the risks at Evidence.
Tags: health risks of nanoparticles, nanotechnology, nanotechnology issues
Posted in health risks, nanomaterials, nanotechnology | 2 Comments »
