About Nanotechnology
What is Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale. Nanotechnology, in its traditional sense, means building things from the bottom up, with atomic precision.
Nanotechnology is sometimes referred to as a general-purpose technology. That’s because in its advanced form it will have significant impact on almost all industries and all areas of society. It will offer better built, longer lasting, cleaner, safer, and smarter products for the home, for communications, for medicine, for transportation, for agriculture, and for industry in general.
Imagine a medical device that travels through the human body to seek out and destroy small clusters of cancerous cells before they can spread. Or a box no larger than a sugar cube that contains the entire contents of the Library of Congress. Or materials much lighter than steel that possess ten times as much strength. — U.S. National Science Foundation
Future of Nanotechnology
After an overwhelming response from industries worldwide, Nanotechnology inspired products have gained momentum for global outreach and consolidation. Globally, it is driving the industrial nanotechnology scenario across various sectors as construction, automotive, biotech, renewable energy, filters etc. One of the first areas chosen for commercialization is paints and coatings, where nanotech impact is early and revolutionary. Nanotechnology enabled paint/coatings include various high performance and multi-functional paints/coatings in decorative as well as industrial segment. In decorative segment, they have developed nano water base paints that are low VOC, anti-fungal/bacteria/algae, hydro-phobic, UV resistant, heat insulating with elastomeric (stretchable that cover cracks) properties for building and these are not only environment friendly but also robust in terms of performance and life.
The recent Paint Research Association-UK report testifies that these water base paints are 311% elastic; not only anti-bacterial but also kill bacteria; highly hydrophobic (79° contact angle); and very low VOC level-truly a high performing paint with green tag. Similarly, wood paints and coatings that are not only water/UV/fungus resistant but also termite-free and fire resistant. Other building segment products include transparent coatings for plaster, glass, and ceramic, stone that are water repellent, anti-bacteria/fungal and non-polymeric. In industrial/marine segment, product portfolio includes heat conducting paints, high electrically insulating paints that withstand 5000 V, high anti-corrosive paints, pollutant adsorbent paint, high impact and scratch resistant paints, high temperature resistant paints, clear coat paints, antifouling paints and many more.