C hapter 10 nanomaterial product Forms and Functions
434
because they provide a direct and cost-efficient way of imparting
particular surface qualities to a material without having to alter the
entire mass of the material. Seemingly everything from metals to
textiles can be coated (and probably has been).
As discussed in the previous section, there are also ambiguities in
what is meant, exactly, by the term coating compared with terms
such as thin films, paints, platings, and other similar terms that
connote surface coverings of one type or another. Nanocoatings
and nano-based thin films are quite similar but with the general
implication that “coatings” are thicker than films. Many of the
applications described in this section apply to both nanocoatings
and nano-based thin films. Paints are invariably thicker.
Nanocoatings provide one of the greater overall market potentials
for any kind of nano-based product or device. We have already seen
that nanomaterials are intrinsically expensive and that production
processes for many nanoforms can yield only very small objects
due to technological barriers. Many of the production processes
for nanocoatings, by contrast, are potentially suitable for covering
relatively large areas. Coatings are quite thin, and relatively small
quantities of nanoparticles are used in a typical nanocoating, hence
reducing basic costs. Using thin nano-based coatings is thus a very
effective way to take advantage of many of the remarkable properties of nanomaterials without bearing the production costs of
making large components fully out of nanocomposites.
Primary functional uses of coatings include improving the wear,
abrasion, or corrosion resistance of a covered material; altering or
improving its electrical, magnetic, frictional, or optical characteristics; proving a surface sealing for preventing liquid or gas penetration; and simply being decorative. An important application is in
architecture and product design, where various kinds of coatings
are used for antireflection or low emissivity glasses. Antimicrobial,
self-cleaning, and other actions are also intended uses.
Nanocoatings that provide improvements in mechanical properties
were briefly discussed in Chapter 9. There it was noted that several
kinds of nanocrystalline powders have been used for making metallic coatings that improve surface hardness. Nanocrystalline nickels
have been used in many products, including golf club shafts, as
hard protective shells. Polymer-based nanocoatings are in wide
use as coatings for corrosion protection of metals. Nanolayered coatings are used for improving the hardness of cutting edges. Coatings
are also used to improve the thermal stability of materials. Porous
ceramic materials are often used for thermal coatings, particularly
434
because they provide a direct and cost-efficient way of imparting
particular surface qualities to a material without having to alter the
entire mass of the material. Seemingly everything from metals to
textiles can be coated (and probably has been).
As discussed in the previous section, there are also ambiguities in
what is meant, exactly, by the term coating compared with terms
such as thin films, paints, platings, and other similar terms that
connote surface coverings of one type or another. Nanocoatings
and nano-based thin films are quite similar but with the general
implication that “coatings” are thicker than films. Many of the
applications described in this section apply to both nanocoatings
and nano-based thin films. Paints are invariably thicker.
Nanocoatings provide one of the greater overall market potentials
for any kind of nano-based product or device. We have already seen
that nanomaterials are intrinsically expensive and that production
processes for many nanoforms can yield only very small objects
due to technological barriers. Many of the production processes
for nanocoatings, by contrast, are potentially suitable for covering
relatively large areas. Coatings are quite thin, and relatively small
quantities of nanoparticles are used in a typical nanocoating, hence
reducing basic costs. Using thin nano-based coatings is thus a very
effective way to take advantage of many of the remarkable properties of nanomaterials without bearing the production costs of
making large components fully out of nanocomposites.
Primary functional uses of coatings include improving the wear,
abrasion, or corrosion resistance of a covered material; altering or
improving its electrical, magnetic, frictional, or optical characteristics; proving a surface sealing for preventing liquid or gas penetration; and simply being decorative. An important application is in
architecture and product design, where various kinds of coatings
are used for antireflection or low emissivity glasses. Antimicrobial,
self-cleaning, and other actions are also intended uses.
Nanocoatings that provide improvements in mechanical properties
were briefly discussed in Chapter 9. There it was noted that several
kinds of nanocrystalline powders have been used for making metallic coatings that improve surface hardness. Nanocrystalline nickels
have been used in many products, including golf club shafts, as
hard protective shells. Polymer-based nanocoatings are in wide
use as coatings for corrosion protection of metals. Nanolayered coatings are used for improving the hardness of cutting edges. Coatings
are also used to improve the thermal stability of materials. Porous
ceramic materials are often used for thermal coatings, particularly