Be first to read the latest tech news, Industry Leader's Insights, and CIO interviews of medium and large enterprises exclusively from Applied Technology Review
As materials function differently at the atomic level, the nanoworld is a fascinating place. They gain improved physical qualities
By
Applied Technology Review | Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Stay ahead of the industry with exclusive feature stories on
the top companies, expert insights and the latest news delivered straight to your
inbox. Subscribe today.
Nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing innovations are transforming numerous manufacturing areas and will continue to improve equipment and machine monitoring to maximize efficiency and output.
Fremont, CA: As materials function differently at the atomic level, the nanoworld is a fascinating place. They gain improved physical qualities that can be utilized in manufacturing to generate high-performance, innovative goods. Nanotechnology entails working on extremely small scales, such as 100 nanometers or smaller. Nanomaterials can be created to outperform normal materials in terms of strength, flexibility, durability, lubricity, and electrical conductivity, as well as being resistant to a variety of environmental conditions and even bacteria.
The scaled-up, repetitive, and cost-effective production of nanoscale materials, structures, devices, and systems is known as nanomanufacturing. These materials and technologies are then employed to create cutting-edge, next-generation products that deliver better performance at a reduced cost while also being more environmentally friendly.
How are nanomaterials being used in manufacturing?
Breakthroughs in nanotechnology open up new, ever-expanding possibilities for synthesizing and commercializing innovative nanomaterials. These materials are essential for enhancing advanced manufacturing, boosting product performance, and developing new, innovative manufacturing products, such as:
Coatings: Nanoparticle deposition technologies provide highly uniform, conformal nanoscale particle coatings that boost steel's strength by up to ten times while also making it more corrosion resistant.
Nanoengineered polymers: Manufacturers can choose from thousands of nanoengineered polymers and hybrid polymer mixtures. Nanoparticles are placed in polymers with precise quantities and orientations to improve strength, temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance.
Lubricant coatings: Engineered nanoparticles can also provide lubricity and wear resistance. These are usually applied to solid surfaces as a coating or dispersed in lubricating fluids like oil.
DNA based structures: Human DNA can be utilized to create frameworks for the construction of mechanical structures and gadgets. For example, according to Nanowork, a renowned nanotechnology portal, "DNA molecules can serve as precisely controllable and programmable frameworks for organising functional nanomaterials in the design, production, and characterisation of nanoscale size electrical devices and sensors."
Nanomachines: From chemical and biological molecules, researchers have successfully constructed operational nanomotors, nanorobots, and nanomachines. These molecules self-assemble into programmable, functional nanoscale devices. They have significant potential in medicine since they are small enough to move through the circulatory system—for instance, they can be microscopic robots that seek out and eliminate cancer tumors by entering the tumor and emptying tiny payloads of medications.