C hapTer 11 nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
484
thermal environments, for example, can potentially transfer heat
more efficiently, insulate more efficiently, or generate heating or
cooling more efficiently. With increased efficiency comes reduced
product sizes and weights, hence reductions in the energy needed
to produce them. Structural nanocomposites are expected to make
other products smaller and lighter as well. All these things result in
decreased energy expenditures.
The benefits of improved production processes can be very high.
A case in point that has attracted considerable interest is the use
of nanoparticles in concrete mixes used in massive quantities in
construction. As discussed in Section 9.2, manufactured cement is a
primary ingredient in concrete. It has been found that the production of cement accounts for between 5% and 10% of the world’s
total carbon dioxide emissions, a figure that will probably surprise
most readers. A research team observed that concrete’s strength and
durability lie in the way that particles in concrete are organized,
thus opening the potential for using materials other than conventional cement to achieve strength and durability but with lower
carbon dioxide emission levels. The idea is still in its infancy, but
prospects are intriguing.
The potential list of other ways that nanomaterials might help
reduce sources from production processes is long. Approaches vary.
It is known that catalytic processes can be improved and made more
selective via the use of particular kinds of nanomaterials and thus
could potentially improve a whole series of production processes
related to chemicals. Nanomaterials could start replacing the need
for toxic heavy metals in some processes.
Source reductions can also occur in ways that are not commonly
thought about. Chapter 10 discussed the emerging potential of
self-cleaning materials, ranging from glasses through concrete to
textiles. Our society spends an enormous amount of not only
effort but direct energy as well in keeping products clean. Washing
clothing, for example, is among the most common of society’s
activities and consumes huge energy resources. Some cleaning
processes also use chemicals that can have potentially harmful
environmental effects. Decreasing the need for constant cleaning
could have a significant environmental benefit; how much, of
course, is unclear, since little work has been done in assessing
benefits such as these.
Though the opportunities seem high, there is currently little understanding of the overall impacts that nanomaterials might have
in improving processing methods as a way of reducing negative
484
thermal environments, for example, can potentially transfer heat
more efficiently, insulate more efficiently, or generate heating or
cooling more efficiently. With increased efficiency comes reduced
product sizes and weights, hence reductions in the energy needed
to produce them. Structural nanocomposites are expected to make
other products smaller and lighter as well. All these things result in
decreased energy expenditures.
The benefits of improved production processes can be very high.
A case in point that has attracted considerable interest is the use
of nanoparticles in concrete mixes used in massive quantities in
construction. As discussed in Section 9.2, manufactured cement is a
primary ingredient in concrete. It has been found that the production of cement accounts for between 5% and 10% of the world’s
total carbon dioxide emissions, a figure that will probably surprise
most readers. A research team observed that concrete’s strength and
durability lie in the way that particles in concrete are organized,
thus opening the potential for using materials other than conventional cement to achieve strength and durability but with lower
carbon dioxide emission levels. The idea is still in its infancy, but
prospects are intriguing.
The potential list of other ways that nanomaterials might help
reduce sources from production processes is long. Approaches vary.
It is known that catalytic processes can be improved and made more
selective via the use of particular kinds of nanomaterials and thus
could potentially improve a whole series of production processes
related to chemicals. Nanomaterials could start replacing the need
for toxic heavy metals in some processes.
Source reductions can also occur in ways that are not commonly
thought about. Chapter 10 discussed the emerging potential of
self-cleaning materials, ranging from glasses through concrete to
textiles. Our society spends an enormous amount of not only
effort but direct energy as well in keeping products clean. Washing
clothing, for example, is among the most common of society’s
activities and consumes huge energy resources. Some cleaning
processes also use chemicals that can have potentially harmful
environmental effects. Decreasing the need for constant cleaning
could have a significant environmental benefit; how much, of
course, is unclear, since little work has been done in assessing
benefits such as these.
Though the opportunities seem high, there is currently little understanding of the overall impacts that nanomaterials might have
in improving processing methods as a way of reducing negative