RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN NANO TECHNOLOGY
Small is good……….smart and powerful. In fact, things that are small in size seem to be ruling the world of technology.
‘Nano’ is the Greek word for ‘dwarf’. Today it means one billionth of a meter.
Nano material is anything as small as an atom or a molecule.
Nano technology is the process of building devises out of individual atoms or molecules.
It was discovered in recent years that materials attain astonishingly new properties when they are of nano size. The use of nano materials dates back to Greek and Roman civilizations, for example, recently French scientists discovered that the hair dye used to blacken grey hair in the Roman Empire worked by depositing nano-crystals of lead sulfide at the root of the hair. Similarly, Indian Institute of Technology researchers found that Kajal-the ancient Indian eye liner is filled with carbon nano-tubes.
Today nations are spending millions of dollars on research and development work in the field of Nano Technology. During the recent Indo-UK Nano Technology Conference held at the S. N. Bose National Centre of Basic Sciences, Kolkata, Prof. Mark Welland, Director, Nano Science Center, Cambridge University predicted that the next wave of global advances in I T and telecom will be driven by innovations in nano technology, be it advances in computer technology, mobile phone flash memory, future digital cameras or the ipod Nano. He said that it’s incredible impact will touch all major industry sectors like healthcare, automobiles, cosmetics, energy, food, paints, security and environment. The biggest economic driver in the computer field will be the need to reduce the cost of computation. Nano technology can sharply reduce the cost of storing information on a hard disk.
Considering the Indian Scenario, a Nano Science & Technology Consortium has been established with the aim of creating a platform conducive for growth, promotion and partnering in the field of nano science and technology. The Rajeev Gandhi Nano Tech Silicone is coming up at Hyderabad. The Indian Department of Science and technology is supporting over 100 nano technology related initiatives costing over 70 million dollars during the last four years. Dr J. Bellare of IIT, Mumbai recently listed the following future developments in Nanotechnology;
Medical-Advanced drug delivery systems, micro-engineered devices, improved cardiac catheters & Stents.
Cosmetics- durable action cosmetics.
Computers- faster computers and advanced data storage
Agriculture- Advanced systems for storage, preservation and irrigation
Industry- Nano pores for smart filters and membranes
The future possibilities are endless in a plethora of fields like computers, mobile phones, health-care, and entertainment. Let us see some of the recently developed applications of Nano technology.
Recent applications
Socks for marathon runners: - Greeyarn, a Boston company manufactured the most cushioned socks for marathon runners at the recent Boston and Chicago marathons. At 200 needle points, these socks made of Eco-fabric manufactured from nano particles of bamboo-charcoal keep runners’ feet cool and dry, help circulation and remain odorless. Socks infused with anti-microbial nano silver particles have also been made. Acrymed uses nano particles for anti-microbial applications.
Nano-Tex pants:- Pants that feel like cotton but do not wrinkle
Thermo-regulator fabrics:- French fabric house Avelana and Roudiere’ has made a thermo-regulator fabric which absorbs thermal changes and offers garments which keep their wearers at a conducive temperature regardless of the weather.
Samsung uses nano technology in their products like refrigerators, washing machines and air-coolers.
In medicine, nano technology is being used in the field of diagnostic tests for tuberculosis and colon cancer. 100 megabits-per second 4G phones, in future, could work as portable doctors and omnipotent medical devices enabling health check-ups anywhere and transmit the data to the physician wirelessly for quick diagnosis. University of Alberta developed a micro sensor which monitors the bone healing process in people recovering from hip replacement surgery. It reduces post operation recovery time and the wait time for patients needing artificial joint implants. Nano technology is being used in dental restoration to achieve a combination of strength and aesthetics.
NIST, Gaithersburg, Maryland has developed a novel platform for the self assembly of hierarchical surfaces in a fluid which offers a new way to generate and measure self assembly at the nano scale...
University of Albany, New York used immersion lithography to pattern features narrower than 45 nm in multiple orientations simultaneously.
Motorola Laboratories and Arizona State University used single wall carbon nano tubes (SWNT) in field effect transistors (FET) to sense biological and chemical agents. Carbon nano tubes coated with peptides were used to produce low power SWNT-FET s that are highly sensitive and can selectively detect heavy metal ions to the parts per trillion levels.
Center for functional nonmaterials, Brookhaven National Laboratory used rigid synthetic double-stranded DNA to control the assembly of gold nano particles. The DNA was capped on to individual gold nano particles and customized to recognize and bind to complementary DNA located on other particles.
University of Delaware scientists discovered a means to detect and identify damage within advanced composite material by using a network of carbon nano tubes which acts in much the same way as human nerves. This device will enable better prediction of the life span of various composites and it could become an important tool in monitoring the health of components made of composite materials.
Clemson University Chemists have developed a counter measure strategy to stop the spread of Anthrax. Anthrax spreads by inhalation of the fine spores into the lungs. The anthrax spores are covered with sugar molecules which attracts other biological species. The scientists used carbon nano tubes coated with sugar which binds with anthrax pores, creating clusters too large to be inhaled into lungs.
Sources
1. Small Times, v.6, No.6, November/December 2006 (www.smalltimes.com)
2. I T will be driven by nano technology, Economic Times, November 22, 2006
3. Size does matter, Times of India, November 19, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
WHY METALLURGY?
In this age of microchips, computers and cell phones what is the role of a metallurgist? If you look at the recruitment activities of professionals in India, it seems that there is nobody like a metallurgical/materials engineer. All metallurgical engineering graduates along with all other streams of engineers are recruited by I.T./Software companies. Hardly any manufacturing company advertises for metallurgical engineers. Is this situation tenable? Should we close down all metallurgy/materials departments in universities and professional institutes? I feel that such an eventuality will be disastrous for the future of the country. Without any bright youngster going into manufacturing, what will happen to our industries? For a stable economy, manufacturing is as important or more as the service industry where all the microchips and computers go. Many metal industries are expanding and, at least in India the production of many of the primary metals is far below our future demands.
There seems to be a misconception that the job of a metallurgical/materials engineer is superfluous and most of his functions are actually carried out by chemical/mechanical engineers. At this juncture it is worthwhile to understand the role of a metallurgical engineer.
WHAT IS METALLURGICAL/MATERIALS ENGINEERING?
As engineering is the application of scientific principles to the benefit of the society, the engineer develops and runs technologies to produce goods or facilities used by man. A metallurgical engineer is no exception; he uses the principles of metallurgy to produce, process and supply metals and alloys to the society. In the production and processing of metals, chemical and mechanical engineers are required. But the metallurgical engineer decides ‘how to produce and process’. He decides the extraction methods and the chemical engineer along with mechanical engineers erect the plant and run the process to the specifications set by the metallurgical engineer. Similar is the case of metal processing like casting, mechanical working or fabrication, where the metallurgical engineer selects the process and runs it with the help of mechanical engineers. At every step in the extraction and processing of metals, the presence of the metallurgical engineer is essential because he is the one knowledgeable about the characteristics of the metal and who knows how the metal will behave under any set of conditions. Why?
Metals occupy a very important position in engineering and technology because of their unique properties. High strength, ductility, and formability are the properties which make metals essential for engineering structures, buildings, machines etc. High thermal and electrical conductivities and beneficial magnetic properties of metals are used electrical and other related applications. Many of these properties depend strongly on the chemical composition and internal structure of the metal. Metals are rarely used in engineering applications in their pure form. Almost always alloys are used. Alloys of metals are produced by combining two or more different metals. The properties of the material are very sensitive to the nature and amount of alloying elements present in it. All metallic materials are made up of small blocks called grains. An alloy may contain one type of grains or of different types having different chemical compositions. Most of the engineering properties of alloys strongly depend upon the type, size and distribution of these grains. Whole of these arrangements are referred to as the microstructure of the alloy. A metallurgist controls the properties of metals by controlling their chemical composition and the microstructure by alloy additions and thermal/mechanical treatments. Hence, only a metallurgist can properly produce metals and metallic components with desired shape and properties. He requires the help of chemical and mechanical engineers to do this.
Metallurgical engineers should be better equipped with chemical/mechanical engineering skills so that his employability and usefulness to the industry increases.
More on metallurgy later.
gblogger
In this age of microchips, computers and cell phones what is the role of a metallurgist? If you look at the recruitment activities of professionals in India, it seems that there is nobody like a metallurgical/materials engineer. All metallurgical engineering graduates along with all other streams of engineers are recruited by I.T./Software companies. Hardly any manufacturing company advertises for metallurgical engineers. Is this situation tenable? Should we close down all metallurgy/materials departments in universities and professional institutes? I feel that such an eventuality will be disastrous for the future of the country. Without any bright youngster going into manufacturing, what will happen to our industries? For a stable economy, manufacturing is as important or more as the service industry where all the microchips and computers go. Many metal industries are expanding and, at least in India the production of many of the primary metals is far below our future demands.
There seems to be a misconception that the job of a metallurgical/materials engineer is superfluous and most of his functions are actually carried out by chemical/mechanical engineers. At this juncture it is worthwhile to understand the role of a metallurgical engineer.
WHAT IS METALLURGICAL/MATERIALS ENGINEERING?
As engineering is the application of scientific principles to the benefit of the society, the engineer develops and runs technologies to produce goods or facilities used by man. A metallurgical engineer is no exception; he uses the principles of metallurgy to produce, process and supply metals and alloys to the society. In the production and processing of metals, chemical and mechanical engineers are required. But the metallurgical engineer decides ‘how to produce and process’. He decides the extraction methods and the chemical engineer along with mechanical engineers erect the plant and run the process to the specifications set by the metallurgical engineer. Similar is the case of metal processing like casting, mechanical working or fabrication, where the metallurgical engineer selects the process and runs it with the help of mechanical engineers. At every step in the extraction and processing of metals, the presence of the metallurgical engineer is essential because he is the one knowledgeable about the characteristics of the metal and who knows how the metal will behave under any set of conditions. Why?
Metals occupy a very important position in engineering and technology because of their unique properties. High strength, ductility, and formability are the properties which make metals essential for engineering structures, buildings, machines etc. High thermal and electrical conductivities and beneficial magnetic properties of metals are used electrical and other related applications. Many of these properties depend strongly on the chemical composition and internal structure of the metal. Metals are rarely used in engineering applications in their pure form. Almost always alloys are used. Alloys of metals are produced by combining two or more different metals. The properties of the material are very sensitive to the nature and amount of alloying elements present in it. All metallic materials are made up of small blocks called grains. An alloy may contain one type of grains or of different types having different chemical compositions. Most of the engineering properties of alloys strongly depend upon the type, size and distribution of these grains. Whole of these arrangements are referred to as the microstructure of the alloy. A metallurgist controls the properties of metals by controlling their chemical composition and the microstructure by alloy additions and thermal/mechanical treatments. Hence, only a metallurgist can properly produce metals and metallic components with desired shape and properties. He requires the help of chemical and mechanical engineers to do this.
Metallurgical engineers should be better equipped with chemical/mechanical engineering skills so that his employability and usefulness to the industry increases.
More on metallurgy later.
gblogger
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Nano materials
Nano materials are those with grain sizes in the range of few nanometers. Starting with nano carbon,scientist have produced and studied many nano materials. This new kind of materials are supposed to have several beneficial properties. But nobody is sure. Because it is difficult to produce nano metals,no comprehensive tests regarding strength, electrical and magnetic properties, etc have been conducted.
Material scientists and metallurgists have a tendency to jump from one fancy project to another so that they are in the "forefront" of research. In the 1980's it was metallic glass and now it is nano materials. There was lot of noice about the wonder of metallic glasses,but few years down the line everybody realised that they are barking the wrong tree as far as new materials are concerned. Are nano materials going the same way? Let us hope they turn out to be more real than metallic glasses. The penchant for proclaiming discovery of wonder metals,without any substantial experimental verification leads metallurgists to lose their face.
Material scientists and metallurgists have a tendency to jump from one fancy project to another so that they are in the "forefront" of research. In the 1980's it was metallic glass and now it is nano materials. There was lot of noice about the wonder of metallic glasses,but few years down the line everybody realised that they are barking the wrong tree as far as new materials are concerned. Are nano materials going the same way? Let us hope they turn out to be more real than metallic glasses. The penchant for proclaiming discovery of wonder metals,without any substantial experimental verification leads metallurgists to lose their face.
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