Nanotechnology and Manufacturing
Interconnected for the Future

While it may seem hard to believe, manufacturing and nanotechnology are becoming more and more interconnected. Nanotechnology is not a new technology at all. We are just hearing about it more and more. In fact, some nanotechnology has been around for decades. Our understanding and use of its applications are just starting to catch up with its potential.

Take copper, as an example. In its common, micro-grain form, copper is a fairly soft and malleable material. When you reduce the grain size to the nano-scale level, it becomes five times harder than the copper we are used to. Even more interesting, is that the copper formed at the nano-scale level has the same ability to bend as its micro-scale cousin, breaking the long-lived notion that the harder the metal is, the more brittle it is. Many new applications for the use of the harder, nano-scale formed copper can now be considered where traditional copper would not work.

NanoSteel, a company in Maitland, Florida, produces a coating that can be applied to many metals and it is only one 20,000th of an inch thick. Once applied, the coating cannot be hammered or chiseled off and is significantly harder than any other commercial coating now available. The NanoSteel coating has been tested on rock crusher plates and lasted 48 hours before wearing out – other coatings would have only lasted one hour.

In the polymer world, nanotechnology is being used to add tiny clay particles to plastic. The plastic becomes much stronger, is more fire resistant, has better vapor barrier properties and is biodegradable. These improvements come by adding only a five weight percent of the clay to the plastic.

Beer manufacturers can now consider using plastic bottles for packaging beer. They were not able to use plastic in the past as the beer would quickly degrade due to air passing through the plastic. Using nano-clay plastic, instead of the heavier glass bottles or cans, would significantly reduce their handling and shipping costs.

There are countless possible applications for the nano-clay plastics. Imagine garbage bags that are twice as strong, contain smells better, and biodegrade more quickly after reaching the landfill. Imagine plastic parts that do not turn to molten goo in the presence of fire. Imagine cell phones and computers that can be dropped without breaking.

Some of these new nano super-materials do not require changes in equipment or processes to use them. This will allow manufacturers to transition to these super materials from currentones much more rapidly.

Manufacturers can find our more about nanotechnology by going to the TDO website at www.tdo.org , or contact Kirk Waldell at (315) 425-5144 or kwardell@tdo.org.