Nanotechnology and automotive manufacturing

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at a molecular scale. This technology is indispensable because many common substances have different and useful properties when reduced in size. It promises to improve the performance of existing technologies significantly.

“Nanotechnology is expected to be a key driver for innovation in the automotive industry,” says Wijia Xie, an industry analyst from research and consulting firm Frost & Sullivan.

“The technology has a wide variety of applications in many vehicle components, including the car body, windows, tires, control system, catalytic converter, and engine systems,” Xie adds.

“The application of nanotechnology is usually done so as to significantly improve the safety, comfort, efficiency and eco-friendliness of future generation cars.”

Indeed, there are a number of processes and products enhanced by nanomaterials that are making an impact in the automotive industry.

These include nanocomposites incorporating a variety of materials for structural reinforcement and safety; nanoparticle catalysts for fuel economy; nanoadditives for lubricants; and easy-clean, anti-fogging, anti-abrasion, anti-corrosion and self-repairing coatings. Companies like Toyota, General Motors, Ford and Rolls-Royce are all taking a lead in developing technologies in these areas.

Over the past decade, one of the most significant technological developments in the plastics industry has been in the use of nanocomposite materials.

Nanocomposites are stiffer, lighter and less brittle in cold temperatures than conventional plastics. They exhibit properties that are greatly different from macroscopic composites and have been shown to yield multiple benefits at relatively low cost compared to traditional methods of plastic enhancement, such as polymerisation.

“Exatec and DuPont developed scratch-resistant coatings for cars with polymer nanocomposite or metal oxide nanoparticles that provide excellent anti-scratch properties against hard-object impacts,” says Xie.

In 2002, General Motors used nanocomposite technology with thermoplastic olefins, thus opening up a whole new area of commercialisation.

The advanced thermoplastic nanocomposite part was used on the maker’s GMC Safari and Chevrolet Astro mid-size vans. It was the first automotive exterior application of this lightweight, high-performance and affordable material. Other automotive parts that have been developed from the material include exterior door and rear quarter panels. The plastic enables these items to spring back into shape following low-speed impacts.

Usage
Nanoparticle technology is being used in the automotive industry to protect engines and enable them to perform better.

Ford, for example, is using a device called the Local Electrode Atom Probe to conduct research into making metals and plastics lighter and stronger. The device works at the atomic scale and is useful for removing atoms from metallic surfaces and locating the atom position on those surfaces.

Nanoparticles are also being used as ‘fillers’ for metals and plastics to increase the strength of produced materials and reduce their weight in the process. Ford’s ‘Atoms to Engines’ team looked at the structure of cast aluminium alloys at near atomic levels. A detailed analysis of the structure, property and process relationship of the aluminium alloy engine blocks led to reduced engine weight, which in turn resulted in increased fuel efficiency.

Researchers are looking into ways in which Nanoparticles can be added to glass and paints to enable them to better withstand radiation and provide self-cleaning mechanisms.

Nanostructured surfaces result in improved paint adhesion and colour durability. It is no surprise then the Ford Motor Company has predicted that by 2015, nanomaterials will be used in 70 percent of its production materials. The move could likely position the company as a leader of the automotive industry once again. This is how big it is.

Clean technology
Nanotechnology’s many applications in clean technology range from solar panels to EV batteries. A report from Lux Research sees a $29 billion clean tech nanotechnology market in 2015.

Considering its features and what it has to offer, there seems no doubt that potential for nanotechnology in the manufacturing processes of electric cars is immense.
To exemplify, Lithium ion batteries are currently being intensively developed across the world for use in electric vehicles. Nanotechnology promises to improve the performance and the life-times of these batteries.

Additionally, it also has the potential to enhance the energy and power density, shorten the recharge time, as well as decrease the size and weight while improving safety and stability of the batteries.

“Nanotechnologies can further enable some sci-fi concepts for future vehicles, such as collisionless auto-driving cars, shape-shifting cars, and solar power cars. Its potential truly is astounding,” points out Xie.

BY: Rebecca D'Souza

Nanotechnology and Automotive in future business

Nanotechnology Implementation in the Automotive Sector: Big Opportunities in the Small

There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom."

This statement by the late physicist Richard Feynman 42 years ago started a revolution that has taken the industrial world by storm. Nanotechnology has given flight to visions both probable and hyped.

The potential of nanotechnology in the automotive industry remains largely untapped - only recently has this sector become receptive to nanotechnology concepts. The automotive industry is an avid user of technology, meaning that it has great potential for the implementation of nanotechnology solutions and products, but these are still mostly in the research and development stage.

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is the engineering of materials on the scale of 1 nanometer (nm) to 100 nm, a nanometer being 1 billionth of a meter. At this level, the basic physical laws governing macro objects undergo a drastic change. A macro particle is a cluster of atoms arranged together in random order. The formation of the structure is left to nature, and control over the properties of the material is difficult. Nanotechnology, on the other hand, is a bottom-up approach where materials are created by placing individual atoms together. This decreases the randomness in the structural formation, enabling significant control over the properties of the material. Mechanical properties such as strength, ductility, and resilience can all be incorporated into one material.

Currently, nanotechnology is functioning as an enabling technology. It is being used to enhance the properties of existing materials. This is largely attributed to the fact that the technology has clearly not been understood and there is still much more to nanotechnology than meets the microscopic eye.

Nanotechnology Revenue

Nanotechnology has high revenue potential, with some estimates projecting revenues across all industries to reach $1 trillion by 2015. The automotive industry currently accounts for just over $1 billion, about 5 percent of the revenues generated from nanotechnology across all sectors. The tire sector currently account for over 95% of nanomaterials in the automotive industry, in the form or carbon black.

Nanotechnology is clearly in the infancy stage of its product life cycle, with positive returns on investments expected in the medium and long term. Frost & Sullivan projects nanotechnology revenues in the automotive industry to reach $6.5 billion in 2015. Upcoming applications are paints and coatings, and lightweight structures. These are expected to account for 43 percent and 26 percent of revenues in 2015, respectively.

Chart 1 presents Frost & Sullivan's projection for nanotechnology revenues generated in the automotive sector.

Potential Applications in the Automotive Sector

The nanotechnology concept was a part of the automotive industry even before the word "nanotechnology" was coined. Carbon black, a kind of nanomaterial, has been used by the tire industry since the early 1980s as an essential material in tire treads. The recent launch of nanotechnology-based paint in Mercedes vehicles has made the industry aware of the benefits of the technology, and what automakers stand to gain from its implementation. Nanotechnology-based paints are scratch proof and have better aesthetic appeal than conventional paints. Nanotechnology has potential applications in coatings and functional surfaces. Surfaces can be made to have characteristics such as the easy-cleaning property of the Lotus Effect. The Lotus Effect stems from the lotus itself, which has a surface that is naturally hydrophobic. Water droplets roll off the leaf's surface, leaving it practically dry. Moreover, water droplets carry dirt from the surface with them, making the surface self-cleaning. This effect arises because lotus leaves have a very fine surface structure and are coated with hydrophobic wax crystals of around 1 nm in diameter.

Nanotechnology has also made a foray into the area of fuel additives. Nanomaterials in fuel additives enable complete combustion, improving fuel economy and reducing harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Nanomaterials remain suspended in the fuel, enhancing their effectiveness. Conventional additives tend to sink to the bottom of the tank.

Nanomaterials can also be used as catalysts in catalytic converters. Used in conjunction with rare metals such as platinum, palladium and zirconium, nanomaterials reduce the quantity of rare metals needed. Excellent catalysts though these metals are, they are very expensive. Conventional catalysts have a working temperature of about 125 degrees centigrade (C), with virtually no effect before attaining this temperature. This especially is a concern in cold climates, where catalytic converters take longer to warm up. Nanomaterials, on the other hand, can operate at temperatures ranging from -4 degrees C to 500 degrees C, making them effective in all climates and weather conditions. A nanomaterial costs 679 times less than platinum, so the implementation of nanomaterials is a win-win situation for manufacturers and consumers both.

Nanomaterials also can be used for the catalysts and electrodes in fuel cells, making these devices more cost effective. Automotive fuel cells themselves are still in a very nascent stage, and nanotechnology in the automotive fuel cell sector is virtually non-existent. Major use of nanotechnology in fuel cells is expected only from 2008 on - currently, the focus primarily is on research and development.

At present, micro-electromechanical structures (MEMS) are used in a number of automotive sensors. The potential of nanotechnology in this sector remains virtually untapped because nanotechnology structures are expensive compared to conventional structures. The needs of the sensor market are fulfilled by conventional products, which are more cost effective. However, a change is foreseen in this predicament, with tire pressure monitoring legislation demanding better sensors than the ones used at present.

Light emitting diodes (LEDs) also can expect a revolution due to nanotechnology. Quantum dots are playing a vital role in this area, with their potential for a wider spectrum of light at relatively low cost. Quantum dots can help bring down the price of LEDs, and are likely to drive the LED light market for the automotive industry long term.

Nanotechnology and the Automobile

When people think about technologies, they often either think of computers or automobiles. So whenever nanotechnology gets discussed, it always becomes necessary to say how it will impact our automobiles.

The answers arenâ''t very exciting. I recall that the big application that was touted in those heady days after the NNI was launched in 2001 was the use by General Motors of nanoclay-TPO composites in exterior steps for vans resulting in a 7-8% weight saving, a smoother surface and enhanced scratch resistance.

Then you got the more detailed examinations that included nanocomposites in polycarbonate automotive glazing, or nanocomposites for high-barrier plastics for fuel tanks and fuel systems.

The list can go on like this, but you get the pointâ'¿I hope. What weâ''re talking about here is just incremental advances in composite materials. Not particularly exciting, and itâ''s not as if these nanomaterials were specifically engineered for these applications.

But the fascination with the automobile is a strong one, and it has almost become obligatory to mention the car whenever you utter the word â''nanotechnologyâ''.

Along these lines, in the latest issue of Nanotechnology Law & Business they provided a link to an article entitled â''Top Ten Ways Nanotechnology Will Impact Life in the Next Ten Yearsâ''. So, of course, I was intrigued, and sure enough the automobile was included.

What was interesting about how they approached it was not the mention of nanotechnology enabling low-emission automobiles, but using the example of Oxonica and its liquid-based catalyst that reduces emissions for diesel fuels, EnviroxTM.

Whatâ''s interesting about this example is that it has nearly ruined the company. In testing of the Envirox product in diesel engines in Turkey conducted by Petrol Ofisi, the Turkish national oil-and-gas company, the results were disappointing. Oxonica claimed at the time that further tests had to be run, but any way you cut it the future of the Turkish deal looks as though it is finished.

This is not to say nano-enabled fuel-borne catalysts wonâ''t reduce emissions in diesel fuels, but the Oxonica example seems to be a poor one.

But the need to equate nanotechnology to the automobile gets really weird in the hands of futurists. At the recent LA Autoshow designs were submitted for the car that will exist in 2057. Nanotechnology figured prominently with Mercedes-Benz offering up the â''Silver Flowâ'' that will utilize micro-metallic particles that can be rearranged via magnetic fields into any form you choose. Hmmhâ'¿not exactly lighter weight composites for steps on a mini-van.

Taken From : http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk

Nanotechnology: Futuristic Green Cars

What is Nanotechnology?

Nanotechnology is a branch of engineering that deals with design using very small particles and with the manipulation of individual molecules. The size of the particle is 1X10-9 meters. This will reduce the size of an machines and give more efficiency.

What is the use of nanotechnology in Automobile?

In future because of this tiny technology the materials used in cars will replaced by the nano materials, which will reduse the weight of the Car but it is strong enough like as of current materials. Because of this weight loss the efficiency of the Car will increase it will reduce the emissions.

Will Rodgers, director of General Motors' Materials and Process Laboratory, said his company has used nano materials on several vehicles. The center console for the Chevrolet HHR compact wagon, for example, uses high-tech plastic.

In Future the windshield is coated with the material that fills the microscopic nooks and crannies on windshields, making those surfaces perfectly smooth. When a person drives during a rainstorm, the rain naturally falls away, reducing or even eliminating the need for wipers. So this windshield resists water, dirt, salt and bird droppings.

Nanotechnology Unfolds Futuristic Green Cars

Recently, automakers have unleashed their environment-friendly concept cars that are expected to be manufactured using nanotechnology. The latter is a technology of building tiny machines using functional systems at a molecular scale. According to experts, nanotechnology, in its original sense, means projected ability to assemble items from the bottom up, utilizing techniques and tools being developed these days to make complete, high performance products.

LA Design Challenge: Green Cars of the Future

Doc Brown would have been proud. Nine automakers have submitted entries in the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show’s Design Challenge, a competition aimed at conceiving a futuristic car that’s environmentally friendly, by both design and fuel source, and can be recycled after five years on the road. It’s the third such competition sponsored by the auto show, and all entries are strictly two-dimensional. Judges choose a winner based on originality, environmentalism, safety and how well it reflects Southern California’s “green” lifestyle.

For details on the winner, stay tuned for our full L.A. Auto Show coverage coming at the end of November. For now, here’s a sneak peek.

Acura FCX 2020 Le Mans:

Try saying it six times fast. The Le Mans looks like the Batmobile, but uses lightweight, recyclable materials. A hydrogen fuel-cell drivetrain propels it to take on a future 24 Hours of Le Mans, while molecular nanotechnology allows lightweight construction.

Thumbs up: Motors in each wheel assist the hydrogen powertrain, effectively creating AWD.

Thumbs down: Drivers must lie flat on their stomachs.

Audi Dynamic Space Frame:

The Space Frame has built-in channels to facilitate an elaborate drive-by-fluid system. That’s right: Instead of a traditional mechanical linkage between the steering and the wheels, there’s a fluid coupling. The car’s suspension also features liquid portions that are electrically charged to alter the car’s ride.

Thumbs up: The minimal overhangs and gigantic wheels project an athletic stance.

Thumbs down: The suspension concept exists today, but the fluid driveshaft seems like a giant torque converter – hardly the stuff of efficiency.

Hummer O2:

GM’s California design studios say the O2 has a net positive effect on the environment thanks to its algae-filled panels, which turn carbon dioxide into oxygen. Other features include a fuel cell drivetrain and parts made from post-consumer recycled materials.

Thumbs up: Hydraulic motors power all four wheels, and carbon dioxide from each motor is routed toward the algae.

Thumbs down: The algae need to be changed annually. We doubt Jiffy Lube will offer a $29.99 special.

Honda Extreme:

Honda’s Extreme can take on different forms – from a pickup truck to a low-slung sports car – thanks to interchangeable body panels. After five years, the polycarbonate chassis can be recycled.

Thumbs up: Evolving body styles on the same car? Sign us up.

Thumbs down: Sheet-metal makeovers come courtesy of Honda Sustainability Centers, which look like miniature airport terminals with hokey status readouts like “transforming” and “transformation complete.”

Mercedes-Benz RECY:

The RECY, an open-air roadster that looks like it took a few cues from the 1980s SL, offers wood, alloy, glass and rubber materials said to be 100 percent recyclable. A BlueTec diesel engine provides power. Design inspiration came from wooden yachts and sunglasses, Mercedes says.

Thumbs up: Unlike many objects of automotive inspiration, these things actually show up in the concept. The two-frame windshield looks like a pair of Oakleys, and the body has a nautical profile.

Thumbs down: A long aluminum brace splits the two seats. Seems like it could put a crunch on shoulder room.

MINI Biomoke:

The Biomoke sports biodegradable paneling infused with palm tree seeds. When the car expires, the panels compost and the seeds sprout. There are no windows – Mini says the open-air cockpit is best for Southern California’s temperate climate. And like Mini’s real cars, the Biomoke’s exterior can be customized to fit its owner’s tastes.

Thumbs up: We’re still chuckling about the palm tree seeds.

Thumbs down: Temperate climate notwithstanding, a mile on the 405 without a windshield could bury drivers in grit.

Kia Sandstorm:

Kia says its two-seat runabout can hit the beach or navigate through highway traffic. Its aluminum safety cage protects occupants, while cargo space can accommodate a barbecue. Power comes from a biodiesel hybrid engine with plug-in electric capability and recyclable batteries.

Thumbs up: It looks like a genuine dune buggy, so it’s sure to be a hit at the beach.

Thumbs down: We’re all for minimizing waste, but having detachable recycling bins inside the cabin seems a bit overboard.

Toyota RLV:

The Renewable Lifestyle Vehicle seats two, one behind the other. Power comes from an electric powertrain or bicycle-style pedals, the latter for situations like bumper-to-bumper traffic. A pop-up roll cage and active headrests aim to protect occupants during a rollover, and the floorboard is made from bamboo and aluminum.

Thumbs up: Pedaling recharges the battery, and the wheels telescope outward for better high-speed stability.

Thumbs down: Since you’re giving him a lift, there ought to be an extra set of pedals for the passenger.

Volkswagen Nanospyder:

The Nanospyder uses billions of spore-like nanobots – complete with eyeballs, mouths and tiny VW logos – that bind together to create the vehicle. Impending collisions can be picked up by the lead bots, and the information can be sent elsewhere to bolster certain sections of the vehicle.

Thumbs up: Hands down, Nanospyder is the coolest name here.

Thumbs down: Stability depends on these little critters getting along. What happens when you’re doing 65 on an overpass and the bots holding the wheels together decide to mutiny?

NanoEngineer - MarkIII(k) Planetary Gears

This is the MarkIII(k), a planetary gear created by K. Eric Drexler. A planetary gear couples an input shaft via a sun gear to an output shaft through a set of planet gears (attached to the output shaft by a planet carrier). The planet gears roll between the sun gear and a ring gear on the inner surface of a casing. The animation below was produced from a NanoEngineer-1 molecular dynamics simulation. A section of the casing atoms have been hidden to expose the internal gearing assembly.

Planetary gears are attractive targets for molecular modeling because (with careful choice of planet numbers and sun- and ring-gear symmetries) the overall symmetry of the system virtually guarantees low energy barriers along the desired motion coordinate. They also pack considerable complexity into a small structure.

Planetary gears are common mechanical systems used for speed reduction (= torque multiplication). Macroscale versions are found in automobile transmissions, electric screwdrivers, and Mars landers.

The MarkIII(k) gear updates an early 1990s design by Drexler and Merkle, modified to reduce interactions between the sun gear and the bases of the planet gears. The original version was designed with very small moving parts in order to fit the computational constraints of the time. The planet gears are near the lower limits of diameter for functional gear components, and because of this, the "gear teeth" in this system are better thought of as smooth, low-amplitude corrugations in the gear surfaces.

The single covalent (sigma) bonds linking each of the nine planet gears to the carrier gear are easily seen in this POV-Ray image.

This information is collected from the bellow website
http://www.nanoengineer-1.com/content/

Uses of Carbon Nanotubes

Low-friction Carbon Nanotube Bearing Assembly

The high tensile strengths and stiffness of carbon nanotubes have made them important as building materials in many current nanoscience applications. Their range of use is expected to extend to molecular manufacturing applications in nanoscale scaffolding and molecular electronics. Their cylindrical shape and highly delocalized electronic structure make them interesting possible choices for the design of molecular bearing assemblies. In the design at left, the cut-away section is a single covalent structure, around which a low-friction diamondoid bearing is kept from finding a highly stable minimum energy position.

Author:Damian G. Allis
Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University

A Carbon Nanotube Molecular Bearing Assembly

The design of complex nanosystems with numerous moving parts is made complicated by the fundamental limits of chemical bonding and the possible interfaces between moving parts that can be achieved with certain nanostructures. It is possible that this spatial quantization of atomically precise building materials may also be used to drive the self-assembly of some nanosystems, greatly simplifying the assembly process. The nesting of appropriately sized carbon nanotubes, such as shown at left, can serve as a strong driving force for molecular bearing self-assembly.

Author:Damian G. Allis

Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University


Carbon Nanotube Crimp Junction


The high tensile strengths of carbon nanotubes make them likely material candidates in future nanoscale manufacturing applications. In the absence of atomically precise manufacturing methods for fabricating continuous scaffoldings of a single nanotube, methods that lock nanotubes into place by strong electrostatic and/or steric approaches may be possible. The diamondoid crimp junction shown at left is a single covalent nanostructure that fixes two nanotubes at right angles.

Author: Damian G. Allis
Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University


Carbon Nanotube 6-way Junction

The junction at left is generated by three pairs of carbon nanotubes fixed along (x,y,z) axes. The interfaces at the center of this junction are composed of 6 adamantane molecules covalently bound to each carbon nanutobe and functionalized with either nitrogen (N) or boron (B) atoms. These nanotubes are not covalently bound to one another, instead employing dative bonding between nearest-neighbor B-N pairs to hold the six nanotubes in place, a method that offers the possibility of complex structure formation via familiar chemical self-assembly.

Author: Damian G. Allis
Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University

Nanomaterials for Automotive Applications

Exhaust Catalysts:

Use of catalytic converters has significantly reduced emissions of hazardous air pollutants from automobiles. Application of nanotechnology may enable further improvements on existing technology.

Most catalytic converters utilize the precious metal platinum, which is experiencing shortages and therefore increasing in cost. The catalytic reactivity of platinum nanoparticles is significantly enhanced over existing catalysts due to the fact that a much greater surface area of the metal is exposed. Efficiency increases of 50% or greater can be achieved in some cases. The cost of catalytic converters based on nanoparticulate platinum catalysts could be significantly reduced. The manufacturing process may also be simplified, providing additional cost savings. Development of catalytic converters with platinum nano-composites have also been investigated as a way to dramatically reduce the amount of platinum required.

Shock Absorbers:

Shock absorbers provide the comfortable ride we experience today in vehicles ranging from sports cars to sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Nanotechnology – specifically magnetic nanoparticles – are advancing shock absorber capabilities further than ever before.

Magnetic fluids are comprised of magnetic nanoparticles in a fluid suspension. Depending on the size of the nanoparticles, the magnetic fluid may be able to change its apparent viscosity in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field applied to it. Therefore, the viscosity can be controlled dynamically, which allows for active damping. Large amounts of mechanical power can be controlled with a small amount of electrical power, making this method of vibration control much more efficient than traditional. Some magnetic fluids can transform themselves into a nearly solid state, making it possible to adjust the stiffness thousands of times per second. Shock absorbers based on magnetic fluids, therefore, provide a very smooth ride and can be adjusted to the individual wishes of the driver.

Shock absorbers based on magnetic fluids are used today in the Audi Le Mans Quattro. Energy is derived from the electronic control system, and the on-board computer adjusts the shock absorbers based on information provided by sensors that detect the actual driving situation within a few thousandths of a second. The driver can switch between a sporty feel, where the magnetic fluid is at low viscosity, and a more comfortable ride, where the viscosity is set at a higher level.

Coolants:

The rising cost of fuel continues to make the headlines on a daily basis. Consumers are focused now on purchasing vehicles with increased fuel efficiency. Automakers are looking for technology that will improve the fuel efficiency of even the largest SUV’s on the market. Nanomaterials have the potential to do just that.

Nanoparticles when added to heat transfer fluids increase their performance. The solid nanoparticles conduct heat better than the liquid. Nanoparticles work best because they stay suspended in liquids longer than larger particles. They also have a much greater surface area, which is where heat transfer takes place. The smaller the particle, the greater its ability to enhance heat transfer.

 

Nano-additives, including nanoparticles and nanopowders, could potentially reduce the size of automotive cooling equipment while increasing its heat transfer capabilities. Engines and other components could also be smaller and lighter, providing a lighter weight vehicle. In addition, engines could potentially run at more optimal temperatures. These factors would lead to more fuel efficient automobiles. Reduced consumption of fuel would also result in reduced emissions to the environment as well.

 

Numerous other potential applications exist in the automotive market for nanomaterials from Strem. Areas currently under investigation include spark plugs using nanoscale metal and ceramic powders, nanocatalysts for octane enhancers, fuel additive for diesel engines, seatbelts, and vehicle leveling sensors.

A listing of specific metal nanoclusters, metal nanocolloids (organosols and hydrosols), metal nanopowders, metal nanoparticles, and magnetic fluids offered by Strem is available upon request or via our website. Application sheets discussing the potential use of these products in the medical and pharmaceutical, defense and security, chemical, automotive, and energy fields, and as magnetic fluids, can also be obtained from Strem. More information is also available in the form of a reference sheet listing literature source materials.

GM’s Hummer H2 Features Nanocomposite Components

There’s more to the 2005 Hummer H2 SUT than its reconfigurable open cargo bed. The functional and versatile SUT is the latest vehicle in General Motors Corp.’s line-up to benefit from a lightweight, high performance nanocomposite material.

The H2 SUT cargo bed uses about seven pounds of moulded in colour nanocomposite parts for its trim, centre bridge, sail panel and box rail protector.

“The beauty of the Hummer SUT is its ability to go pretty much anywhere off-road and in all types of conditions,” said Bill Knapp, H2 program engineering manager. “We designed this vehicle to use the nanocomposite parts because they are lightweight, and they don't change shape when subjected to temperature changes, which enhances the overall quality of the vehicle.”

GM introduced the first commercial automotive exterior application of nanocomposite material on the step assist of the 2002 GMC Safari and Chevrolet Astro vans. In January 2004, GM expanded its use of nanocomposite material, introducing it on the body side moulding for the ’04 Chevrolet Impala. GM is now using about 660,000 pounds of nanocomposite material per year, which is the highest volume of olefin- based nanocomposite material used in the world.

Compared to conventional fillers, the size of the nanofiller is on the molecular scale, a thickness of one-billionth of a metre or about 1/100,000 the width of a human hair.

“The virtue of using a nanocomposite for automotive applications is that less filler material is required to provide the same or better performance characteristics when compared to conventional materials,” said Will Rodgers, Staff Scientist, GM Research and Development. “Our next applications for nanocomposite materials will be in exterior claddings, interior parts and in non-support trim,” said Rodgers.

The nanocomposite material used on GM vehicles is the product of advanced scientific research at the GM Research & Development Center in Warren, Mich. and an exclusive GM development agreement with Basell USA Inc., the world’ largest producer of polypropylene resin for plastics and Southern Clay Products, Inc., a high quality nanoclay supplier, of Gonzales, Texas. GM successfully developed the chemistry necessary to achieve all the positive attributes for the nanocomposite material. Basell developed the technology necessary to industrialise the new material within Basell’s manufacturing facilities. Southern Clay Products worked with GM to provide a nanoclay that would disperse in an olefin based material.

The parts are moulded at Sport Rack Automotive in Sterling Heights, Michigan, and assembled at the Hummer plant in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Observatory NANO report

ObservatoryNANO report: WP2 - Science and Technology Assessment Automotive and Aeronautics

This report provide information on the processing technologies that could potentially be used in the automotive and aeronautics industry to produce nanostructured metals and alloys.

The nanostructured metals and alloys considered are aluminium, magnesium and titanium.

The report introduces the following techniques used to produce nanostructure metals: severe plastic deformation (SPD), nanopowder sintering, melt spinning and electrodeposition.

Most of the techniques presented in this report are used mainly in lab-scale production for now. Very few exceptions where there have been final products are for small parts like bolt or screws used in the automotive or aeronautics industries. For their use in structural applications in the industrial scale, these novel materials have to be obtained in bulk forms with large dimensions, often in large volumes and always with competitive costs compared with the current solutions. Technically it is not possible yet to comply will all the above mentioned constraints at the same time, but the perspectives are optimistic, as the development of nanostructured materials is a fast-growing field and the potential of these materials is very important, as explained in the report.

This report does not contain any economic information about the processes (production costs, production rates and investments necessary). This is a field that should be analysed in a separate study, so that the industry could evaluate the cost-benefit balance associated to the processes for bulk nanostructured metals.

http://www.observatorynano.eu/project/filesystem/files/ObservatoryNANO_Assessment%20of%20nanotechnology%20in%20automotive%20and%20aerospace%20sectors_final%20report.pdf

Roadmap Report Concerning the Use of Nanomaterials in the Automotive Sector

This report has the objective to give an overview on the use of nanomaterials in the automotive sector and has not the goal to be exhaustive. It will give to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) the possibility to have a concise description of the development in this sector. For this reason only some scientific details and technological explanations are presented.

This roadmap report has the main purpose to help SMEs which are in the process of looking for new materials with improved properties to be integrated in their new products and to give them a first list of relevant nanomaterials they should consider depending on the industrial applications foreseen, the time to market and the R&D capacity of the company.

The target group of users are SMEs, which are starting a strategic decision-making phase for new product development.

The main purposes are:

􀂃 To give an overview on relevant nanomaterials for industrial applications in the automotive sector at short, middle and long term.

􀂃 To give the actual level of development of the nanomaterials and an approximate evolution of it at short, middle and long term.

􀂃 To be adapted to SMEs.

The results are based on a database with information about more than 100 nanomaterials, which was developed in the frame of the EC-funded project NanoRoadSME. The database and the linked roadmapping tool were structured taking into account the results of a European Survey on more than 300 European SMEs, the results of several R&D surveys and industrial SWOT analysis as well as workshops and experts’ interviews.

Technology and market driven approaches were used to gather useful data into the database. It therefore contains relevant technical and economical information on nanomaterials which have future potential use in the automotive industry. This database is a new kind of instrument for dynamic technology roadmapping.

 

Downloadthe detail report form bellow link

http://www.nanoroad.net/download/roadmap_ai.pdf

Nanotechnology in Cars: Drive of the Future

nano-engineered-audi-a9

Cars are common expressions of how developed a nation is. True to this statement, the most developed nations of the world have their own and stable car manufacturing industries that they export to the rest of the world, earning revenues for the source country. More than that, some nations have become synonymous with the brand and quality of their manufactured cars as the case of Japan, Germany, and the United States. Unsatisfied with this and all the modifications they have created on their cars, they have taken automotive technology a bit further by using nanotechnology for cars.

When nanotechnology was discovered, the automotive industry was not seen as a possible beneficiary from this piece of knowledge. Yet in time, the automotive industry became one of the heaviest users of nanotech. With nanotechnology in cars, vehicles were made more efficient.

The Application of Nanotechnology in Cars

The following are some of the most common examples of the application of nanotechnology in cars:

•Engine and transmission systems. In contemporary cars, a large share of the vehicle’s weight is due to the weight of the engine and the transmission system of the vehicle. As a result, cars are fuel-hungry because of the need to push forward such a heavy machine. Nonetheless, with the advent of alloys, engines were made lighter somewhat but not sufficient to make them fuel-efficient. The answer came with the arrival of nanotechnology. With nanotechnology, engines and parts were made a lot lighter, thus eliminating the need to consume more fuel just to power the vehicle forward.

•Chassis. In the same manner that the engine and its parts were made lighter, the same benefit happened in the case of the chassis. Aside from being lighter, chassis and engines were also made more durable, making them withstand daily workload on the road.

•One of the most advanced examples of nanotechnology in cars involves the production of paint that is constituted in microvolumes. The idea is to create a surface that automatically heals itself whenever it is scratched or tainted with some foreign mark. This procedure allows for the paint to release nano paint particles that automatically spreads to cover up the scratched area. It works instantly you’ll hardy notice the surface was scratched at some point.

•Another of the advanced applications of nanotechnology for cars involves the production of mirrors and side panels that are made out of nano particles. Being so, they filter the rays of the sun, smoke, and other pollutants in the atmosphere. The same technology allows radio and phone signals as well as sound waves to freely enter the cars so that the occupants of the vehicle will not be made oblivious to the world outside. This is beneficial for those who have some form of hearing defects; even with all the windows closed, you may still be able to hear the honking of the horn of the next car. Likewise, you do not have to open the window when it is raining just to get a clear signal when calling from your mobile phone

Safety Concerns with Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is one of the hottest scientific discoveries of the present times. This is because nanotechnology presents a lot of promise that all other treatment methodologies before it were unable to deliver. Moreover, nanotechnology also saw applications in other areas aside from the fields it was intended for. As a result, the fields of applications of nanotechnology are as varied as the possible risks that come with it. As such, safety concerns with nanotechnology aired by ordinary citizens and experts alike must not be ignored because it is one of the ways to make the technology very safe for anyone using them.

Common Concerns with Nanotechnology

The following are some of the most common concerns expressed by people on the use of nanotechnology:

•Nanotechnology is a new scientific application. Although this can also mean to be a benefit for mankind, there are safety concerns related to its applications mainly because of the fact that it is something that is not yet fully tested. One of the safety concerns with nanotechnology in this field involves the application of the technology in medical and health fields. Some are afraid that they might trigger harmful effects instead of the intended beneficial effects.

•Because nanotechnology involves the manipulation of matter at the atomic and molecular levels, there are fears that such manipulation may result to the production of materials that will radically alter man’s way of life. This is seen especially to be dangerous in the field of medical applications where nano particles are used in various ways such as sunscreen and injectable medications. Safety concerns with nanotechnology in these areas are heightened because such manipulation of matter may trigger the body to react in a negative way to the presence of nanotechnology products.

•There are also fears that the environment may be placed in jeopardy that nanotechnology products may increase the pollution level in many areas at a time when the need for environmental conservation is vigorously pursued everywhere. For example, the production of better engines for automotives and windows for cars may prompt car manufacturers and local dealers to wantonly discard these parts that can possibly cause environmental nightmare with the absence of better programs on waste disposal. An interesting twist here is nanotechnology is a thriving business in the United States, amounting to billions of dollars. However, despite all these income, very little thought is spared for health and environmental concerns. Because nano particles are very small, they are very difficult to degrade and may easily pass on from one person to another, in the process becoming agents of ailments.

•Another of the numerous safety concerns with nanotechnology is the lack of a centralized monitoring agency that will see to it that all endeavors in this field are religiously monitored. As a proof of this, there are very little journals and researches on the safety concerns with nanotechnology that inevitably enhances the fears that people may have on this technological applications and advancements.

SWOT Analysis Concerning the Use of Nanomaterials in the Automotive Sector

This study has the objective to give an overview on the use of nanomaterials in the automotive sector and has not the goal to be exhaustive. It will give to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) the possibility to have a concise description of the development in this sector. For this reason no scientific detail and technological explanation are presented.

Four main aspects of the industrial branch will be described in the SWOT analysis. The “Strengths” and “Weaknesses” will give information on the actual State of the Art concerning the use of nanomaterials and the “Opportunities” and “Threats” will describe future Trends and Vision in the industrial sector.

 

For Detail Analysis click on bellow Link

http://www.nanoroad.net/download/swot_ai.pdf

Tribological Characteristics of Nanostructured and Composite Coatings

Composite coatings have been in use in various industries. Due to increasing demand in more compact designs, better reliability, lower fuel, lube or material consumption in most advanced tribological systems, the nanostructured compact coating is preferred to achieve better durability and high performance.

The nanostructured composite coatings possess excellent wear protection especially lower friction and wear loses and increased resistance towards fatigue. These coatings are extremely hard and tough in comparison to the conventional coatings. These nanostructural coatings are capable to improve the performance of some of the mechanical components in various industrial applications and are capable to increase the resistance towards deformation even in heavily loaded rolling or rotating contacts.

The actual industrial production of these nanostructured materials including metallic, ceramic or polymeric types has already begin a few years back. In the recent past ceramic-based nanostructured or composite materials has been tried successfully in microelectronics. Although the current cost of producing these nanoparticles is very high but several kind of ceramic-based composite materials has been produced and are being tried in automotive and biomedical fields.

The actual production of nanostructured and composite coatings is generally carried out using a vacuum deposition system. These can be applied to different ceramic and metallic substrates with strong bonding. In the recent past some of the nanostructured and composite coatings such as crystalline diamond, carbide derived carbon,nitride or carbide based nanocrystalline diamond are best suits for extreme tribological requirement as these can drastically reduce wear under heavy load or tough sliding conditions.

These structured and composite coatings may find use in various applications in automotive industry such as for production of high strength springs, valve lifter or fuel injectors. The scientists are examining the various possible application areas of ceramic nanostructured coatings such as sensors, optical materials, fuel cells and cutting tools.

SAE Paper on Nanotechnology Applications in Future Automobiles

I heard many advantages of Nanotechnology from many people but I am not get much details how nanotechnology is helpful in Automobile. So I created this blog to collect the details of future and use of the nanotechnology in Automobile.

Click on bellow link to know the futures of Nanotechnology in Automobile……….

Nanotechnology Applications in Future Automobiles

Nanotechnology in The Transport and Automotive Industry

Applications and Key Drivers In The Automotive Industry

Like many other sectors, the automotive industry is torn between trying to reduce costs on the one hand and, on the other, dealing with the high price of performance-enhancing technology and environmental compliance. Key drivers in the automotive industry are:

• Reduced air pollution

• Recyclability

• Safety

• Better performance and engine efficiency (fuel saving)

• Aesthetics

Future Applications In The Automotive Industry

With some 55 million passenger vehicles sold worldwide in 2002, the automotive market is a very attractive one. Many of the proposed applications of nanotechnology are automotive related such as stronger, lighter, harder materials (nanocomposites), more efficient use of energy (fuel cells) and new nanoscale catalysts (pollution control). Car manufacturers seek to utilise technologies that relate to cost-effective improvements in vehicle performance, convenience and safety.

Nanotechnology Products in Todays Market

Nanotechnology has already found its way into a number of automotive applications, such as clay nanoparticles in composite materials in cars. The widespread use of nanocomposites in cars could, in one example, lead to an enormous decrease in fuel consumption, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Lightweight machine and automobile parts and low sintering material compounds are important components in the commercialisation chain of the automotive industry. Material characterization methods, on-line sensors for the measurement of wear and abrasion, or additives for the adhesion of parts and layers are also a focus in the automotive industry. Further developments target the avoidance of lubricants via thin layers on bearings and gliding elements, new electrostatic filters or high power switches in ignition devices via field emission principles, or new catalyst surfaces via highly porous and chemically selective surfaces. Nanoparticles are being used as abrasives, and in paints, and in electrochromic coatings for windscreens, or windows. The global market for automotive paint was £4bn in 2001 (PG Phillips & Associates).

The Impact Of Nanotechnology In The Following Areas

Direct and indirect involvement of the automotive industry in the commercial application of nanotechnology is increasing by the year and will continue to impact the following areas:

Materials and Coatings

• Functional nanostructural materials

• New cooling fluids and ferrofluids

• Low friction nanocomposite coatings

• Wear resistant nanocomposite coatings

Energy

• High efficiency solar cell

• Hydrogen storage for fuel cell

• Nanocatalysts

• Energy accumulators

Paints and Coatings for Vehicle Body

• Iridescent coatings

• Carbon nanotube based paints

• Corrosion protection coatings

Night Vision Systems

• High transmittance IR polymers embedded with nanoparticles

• High sensitivity IR sensors

Sensors

• Cabin air quality monitoring

• Exhaust emissions detection

Interiors

• Advanced functionalised textiles

• Filters for air control

• Electrochromic glasses

On Board Information

• Thin film display

• Interactive glasses (IPI)

• Micro-shutter displays based on carbon nanotubes

Lighting

• Electro-optical films

• New lighting sources

• Electrochromic coatings

• Optical switches

Nanotechnology Links

http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/report-brochure.pag?id=A816-01-00-00-00
http://www.nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=2356

Nano technology In automotive industry

Hi,
I created this blog to discuss about how nano technology is used it an Automotive industry and what is the influences of nano technology in automobile. Any one can share their Ideas and views in this Blog.