C hapter 10 nanomaterial product Forms and Functions
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Many nanoporous materials are being developed for use as catalysts,
which are materials that increase the rate of a chemical reaction
but remain unchanged by the reaction. Many types of basic nanoporous materials can be nanocoated with various kinds of catalytic
nanoparticles. The specific morphologies and relatively high surface
areas associated with the nanopores improves the catalytic performance of a material. Many membranes of nanoporous materials
are being developed for catalytic purposes. They can be used in a
wide variety of applications, including water and air purification.
They can also be used in a number of energy-related applications.
Approaches include developing membranes for improved fuel-cell
development. Other energy-related applications include nanoporous electrodes that aid the efficiency of batteries and for reversible
hydrogen storage in a solid-state medium (see Section 9.7).
Many nanoporous materials are being developed as breathable
films for product packaging that have useful chemical and physical
properties. Nanopores can impede the passage of bacteria or other
microorganisms. Nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties can
potentially be integrated into a porous matrix, whereas other material characteristics can provide light shielding and other product
packaging needs.
As already discussed, there are many varieties of nanocomposite materials. For some applications, nanocomposites intended
to serve some specific function can also be given a porous nanostructure, or a nanoporous polymer can sometimes be infused into
other materials.
nanotextiles
textiles in design
The use of textiles is pervasive in both product design and architectural applications. The word textile is a general term referring
to a material made of various kinds of yarns, threads, or other
pliable fibers that are interwoven, knitted, or otherwise interlaced
or to materials made of fibers that have been bonded together (e.g.,
felt) by adhesion, cohesion, or friction via some type of mechanical, heat, or chemical process. Nonwoven textiles refer specifically to
the materials made of bonded fibers that have not been woven or
knitted. Usually, nonwoven materials (unless used with backings)
are less strong than ones that have been woven. The terms fabric or
cloth are used to describe types of thin, flexible textiles especially
suited for apparel. The characteristics of these materials that are
important to designers depend both on the type of fibers used and
450
Many nanoporous materials are being developed for use as catalysts,
which are materials that increase the rate of a chemical reaction
but remain unchanged by the reaction. Many types of basic nanoporous materials can be nanocoated with various kinds of catalytic
nanoparticles. The specific morphologies and relatively high surface
areas associated with the nanopores improves the catalytic performance of a material. Many membranes of nanoporous materials
are being developed for catalytic purposes. They can be used in a
wide variety of applications, including water and air purification.
They can also be used in a number of energy-related applications.
Approaches include developing membranes for improved fuel-cell
development. Other energy-related applications include nanoporous electrodes that aid the efficiency of batteries and for reversible
hydrogen storage in a solid-state medium (see Section 9.7).
Many nanoporous materials are being developed as breathable
films for product packaging that have useful chemical and physical
properties. Nanopores can impede the passage of bacteria or other
microorganisms. Nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties can
potentially be integrated into a porous matrix, whereas other material characteristics can provide light shielding and other product
packaging needs.
As already discussed, there are many varieties of nanocomposite materials. For some applications, nanocomposites intended
to serve some specific function can also be given a porous nanostructure, or a nanoporous polymer can sometimes be infused into
other materials.
nanotextiles
textiles in design
The use of textiles is pervasive in both product design and architectural applications. The word textile is a general term referring
to a material made of various kinds of yarns, threads, or other
pliable fibers that are interwoven, knitted, or otherwise interlaced
or to materials made of fibers that have been bonded together (e.g.,
felt) by adhesion, cohesion, or friction via some type of mechanical, heat, or chemical process. Nonwoven textiles refer specifically to
the materials made of bonded fibers that have not been woven or
knitted. Usually, nonwoven materials (unless used with backings)
are less strong than ones that have been woven. The terms fabric or
cloth are used to describe types of thin, flexible textiles especially
suited for apparel. The characteristics of these materials that are
important to designers depend both on the type of fibers used and