Examples Of Nanotechnology Applications Using Nanopowders

By Author: Lois Jones
Total Articles: 6
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“Nano” is a unit of measurement that means “billionth. When making nanopowders, some manufacturers use even smaller nanoparticles, going as low as 30 nanometers. When used in nanotechnology applications, nanoparticles move together with one another and look something like smoke particles when they’re not housed in a liquid suspension.

The particles that make up the powders are so small, if a cup of them were dumped at a four-foot level, before they made it to the floor they would disperse in the air.

When nanopowders are used for technical ceramics, alumina and zirconia are the most common materials. The result of this application is the ceramic has far greater heat resistance and more compacity. In addition, these powders enhance the mechanical properties in whatever object they’re used on.

In ceramics, because the sintering temperature is lower, the energy consumption is much less. The ceramic product, however, will still be very hard with a much better ability to resist high temperatures compared to a product treated with micropowders. These are all ...
... advantages to ceramics manufacturers.

Another application for this versatile powder in the steel industry, where it is used to construct hearths that last longer than other types of hearths and feature far higher heat resistance. Battery manufactures can use these powders to increase battery efficiency, which, if they became efficient enough, could lead to cars that run entirely on battery power.

There are both single and complex nanopowders. The single type has a single citation. The complex type is a powder in which every single particle within it is made of a complex chemical compound. Each compound has at least two and often more different citations within its chemical formula. Calcium titanate (CaTi03) is an example of a complex compound.

Many more applications exist for complex powders than for single, or simple, powders. For example, estimates indicate that there more than 100 complex composition powder applications for every one application with simple powders. An example of a simple powder is oxygen-free aluminum nitride.

Thousands of complex compounds can be synthesized. Some of them are:

Barium aluminum titanate
Barium copper oxide
Lanthanum chromite
Strontium ferrite
Barium copper oxide
Barium calcium copper oxide
Calcium titanate
Calcium zirconium titanium oxide
Cadmium tungsten oxide
Magnesium aluminate
Aluminum titanate
Cerium aluminate
Copper aluminate
along with many others.

The field of nanotechnology is fast-growing, with scientists constantly searching for new uses for the tiny particles and powders. In addition to technical ceramics, batteries and hearths, the applications for these substances is wide and continually expanding.

Lois Jones is a freelance writer interested in Nano materials, Malvern, Pa.-based manufacturer of advanced materials including nanopowders that are used in many industries for a variety of nanotechnology applications. If you’d like to learn more about nanotechnology application,visit their website at NanoMaterialsCompany.com.