The Application Of Nanomaterials

By Author: Lois Jones
Total Articles: 6
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Nanotechnology has become quite popular in this century given what it can do for our economy and what it can do for helping lessen our impact on the environment. Thanks to nanomaterials, researchers and scientist have a paved path for revealing new products. However, there are some risks with nanotechnology that are spreading throughout the scientific media. Yes there are current studies about the environmental and health risks, but there are many other positive applications of nanomaterials that should be discussed.

Using nanopowders we can make different materials like varnish, paint, windows, textiles, ceramics and plastics.
A great application of nanoparticle are sunscreens. Zinc oxide is used to absorb UV Light and nanomaterials can be marketed as broad-spectrum protection for sensitive skin.
Metal oxide nanomaterials can also be sued for baby products and skin lotions because of the aforementioned benefit for sensitive skin.
When you get an MRI you are using an application of nanomaterial, which are used widely in the field of medicine such as in coatings for medical devices and surfaces.
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... Another large application for nanomaterials in in electronics and magnetics where they are used for electroconductive coatings, magnetic seals and optical fibers.
Cosmetic applications (besides the aforementioned sunscreens) are drug delivery, orthopedics and implants, and thermal spray coatings.
As nanomaterials applies to the applications for car exhausts, you also are dealing with automotive catalysts, fuel cells, propellants, and scratch-resistant coatings.
Carbon nanomaterials are used as fillers for car tiers and in photocopiers as pigments in toners.
Most nanomaterials and nanofibers are used to strengthen materials like metals and polymers to give them unique properties to improve flame retardants, insulate electric car cables, improve resin in coils, shield electronic devisce from electrostatic and join with antimicrobic properties for hygienic applications.
Nanomatericals can reinforcement metals with ceramic fibers, which is particularly helpful in structural applications for airplanes, NASA applications and automotive industry.

There are many potential markets and products based on nanomaterials that can help this progressing world. Smart clothes (textile industry), lightweight cars (automotive industry), lubricant-free bearings (engineering), better memory for your computer and a better TV display with OLED displays (electronic industry), flame retardants (construction industry), prostheses and cancer therapy agents (medical industry), solar sells (energy industry), skin creams and sun protectants (cosmetic industry), fruit juice clarifiers (food industry) and antifogging goggles (sports industry) are just a few of my favorites.

The risks associated with nanomaterials are hazards that include emissions of particles (disposal), environmental effects (long-range transport) and health effects to humans and experimental animals. We need to make sure there are preventive measures and personal protection when dealing with nanomaterials, a modification of the processes of dealing with nanomaterials, a standardization of measurement techniques and regulation on exposure and emission standards. If researches can find a solution for free radicals emitted by nanomaterials and lower its high reactivity, nanomaterials should become a more widely used and more positively talked about field.

Lois Jones is a freelance writer for Nanomaterials, a specialty producer of nanomaterials. Interested in finding out more about Nanopowders? Visit our website today for more information.