Presentation 1:
Examples of uses of nanomaterials
at work
www.nanodiode.eu
Sectors / products using
nanomaterials
Date, location
Construction sector
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
More generally, construction uses include composite materials
to improve strength, stiffness, electrical conductivity or heat
resistance
Cement, concrete and wet mortar (e.g. nano-binders in ultrahigh performance concrete)
Steel (increased strength, reduced wear, reduced cracks,
strengthened welds)
Glass (temperature control, heat resistant, self-cleaning, antireflection)
Insulation materials – thermal, noise, temperature regulation
(aero-gel, vacuum insulation panels)
Coating and paints (e.g. UV and water sensitive coatings for
self-cleaning buildings, graffiti-resistant paints; electro-chromic
windows, flame retardance, anti-bacterial, scratch resistance)
Road and other infrastructure construction (longer life,
water-repellence, noise reduction, energy collection, selfcleaning)
Wood – protective coatings, to prevent wear and erosion, algal
growth, infestation by woodworm and termites, UV/light
degradation,
Date, location
References:
http://www.efbww.org/pdfs/Nano%20-%20GB%20Summary.pdf
http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=26700.php
http://www.hielscher.com/nano_cement_concrete_01.htm
Construction sector (cont/d)
Reference:
http://www.efbww.org/pdfs/Nano%20-%20GB%20Summary.pdf
Date, location
Agriculture and food
production/processing
Food production/processing
• Key areas of development are “nanostructures” (or “nanotextures”) in
foodstuffs and nano-sized or nano-encapsulated food additives
• Nanotextures used in spreads, mayonnaise, cream, yoghurts, ice
creams, etc.
• Nano-encapsulated food additives include colours, preservatives,
flavourings and supplements (neutraceuticals)
• Both uses are claimed to give new and enhanced tastes, improved
textures, consistency and stability of emulsions
Agriculture
• Limited public information on use as no legal requirement to identify
nanomaterials in agricultural products
• Nanomaterials presumed used for improved delivery of agrochemicals in
the field, better efficacy of pesticides and better control of dosing of
veterinary products: e.g. slow- or controlled-release fertilizers/pesticides.
• Worker exposure to nanomaterials relates to workers in food and feed
processing and on farms
References: FAO/WHO technical report on state of the art on initiatives and activities relevant to risk assessment and risk management of
nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors (http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3281e/i3281e.pdf) and FAO/WHO Expert meeting on the application
of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors: potential food safety implications (http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1434e/i1434e00.pdf)
Images: http://www.ecpa.eu/page/application and http://libcloud.s3.amazonaws.com/93/25/c/4723/2014_Tiny_Ingredients_Big_Risks_Web.pdf
Date, location
Textiles
•
•
Used in uniforms, laboratory coats, outdoor
clothing, protective clothing (firefighters,)
Nanomaterials provide key properties: antistatic,
self-cleaning (dirt and water repellence),
moisture absorbency, UV protection, increased
durability, antimicrobial, fire resistance, heat
insulation, shielding of electromagnetic radiation
References:
http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/376/pu
blikationen/datenblatt_nanoprdukte_textilien_e.pdf
Images:
http://www.nanotechproject.org/cpi/products/white-swan-uniformsand-scrubs-with-nano-tex/
http://www.elliottaustralia.com/site/pages/Firefighting/Reference_C
enter.php
Date, location
Pigments
•
Used in paints and coatings for decorative (e.g. deeper colour intensity) and protective (e.g.
resistance to corrosion, wear, scratching, graffiti) purposes
•
Relevant to the printing, painting and electronics sectors, and those using inks, paints,
and pigments (e.g. transportation (automotive, ships, trains), construction,
communications)
Many nanomaterials used for light absorption so have brighter colours
Nano has long been used in colouring products, but is more specifically engineered
now to create particles in nano-scale
•
•
References:
http://www.inkworldmagazine.com/issues/200302/view_features/nanotechnology-is-impacting-inks-pigments-pri/
http://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/378/p
ublikationen/use_of_nanomaterials_in_coatings_0.pdf
Photo: http://eramanath.wordpress.com/nanocoatings/
Date, location