chaPter 12 the Broader context
506
Catalytic reactivity of platinum can be increased by using platinum
nanoparticles because of their much greater surface area. Efficiency
increases can lead to less use of platinum. Other kinds of catalytic
materials are being explored as well.
Other basic components include suspension systems that help
maintain control of an automobile by increasing contacts between
tires and roads and minimizing rolling or pitching. These systems
also help ensure occupant comfort by mitigating the effects of road
bumps. Seemingly humble shock absorbers, constituent elements
of a suspension system, are evolving into amazingly sophisticated
devices via the use of magnetorheological fluids. The viscosity of
these fluids can be altered by changing a surrounding magnetic
field (see Section 9.2). Electrorheological technologies can be similarly used. These viscosity changes, in turn, can be used to control
vibrations and various road shocks. These absorbers can also be
connected to sensor nets and their viscosities electronically controlled to be appropriate for particular road conditions or driving
styles. In some automobiles, the driver can also control stiffness for
either sport driving, which typically involves intensive cornering, or
highway cruising. Another approach uses electromagnetic motors
and power amplifiers. Each of these approaches involves utilizing
magnetic phenomena that can in turn be enhanced by the remarkable magnetic properties of many nanomaterials (see Chapter 7).
Cobalt nanoparticles, for example, exhibit high ferromagnetism. All
invariably involved sophisticated electronic sensorbased control
systems that include complex computational means of relating
needed viscosity levels to specific automobile performance needs
(e.g., preventing rolling motions).
Tires, of course, are of fundamental importance in both basic
control and to the overall driving experience. They are the subject
of intense research, with various nanomaterials found to improve
wear and abrasion resistance as well as provide improvements in
fatigue resistance. Carbon black, one of the early synthetic nanomaterials, is widely used in rubber tire production to improve mechanical properties and manufacturability. Other nanomaterials, such as
silica nanoparticles, are being explored for use as well to improve
basic tire properties and overcome many existing problems with
carbon black. In other areas, electrorheological approaches are
being tried for use to vary tire stiffness and aid in driving control
in much the same way as described for active suspension systems.
In light of the need to develop more environmentally friendly and
recyclable materials, tires are viewed as a target for innovations in
this area. Various elastomer and inorganic oxide formulations, for
506
Catalytic reactivity of platinum can be increased by using platinum
nanoparticles because of their much greater surface area. Efficiency
increases can lead to less use of platinum. Other kinds of catalytic
materials are being explored as well.
Other basic components include suspension systems that help
maintain control of an automobile by increasing contacts between
tires and roads and minimizing rolling or pitching. These systems
also help ensure occupant comfort by mitigating the effects of road
bumps. Seemingly humble shock absorbers, constituent elements
of a suspension system, are evolving into amazingly sophisticated
devices via the use of magnetorheological fluids. The viscosity of
these fluids can be altered by changing a surrounding magnetic
field (see Section 9.2). Electrorheological technologies can be similarly used. These viscosity changes, in turn, can be used to control
vibrations and various road shocks. These absorbers can also be
connected to sensor nets and their viscosities electronically controlled to be appropriate for particular road conditions or driving
styles. In some automobiles, the driver can also control stiffness for
either sport driving, which typically involves intensive cornering, or
highway cruising. Another approach uses electromagnetic motors
and power amplifiers. Each of these approaches involves utilizing
magnetic phenomena that can in turn be enhanced by the remarkable magnetic properties of many nanomaterials (see Chapter 7).
Cobalt nanoparticles, for example, exhibit high ferromagnetism. All
invariably involved sophisticated electronic sensorbased control
systems that include complex computational means of relating
needed viscosity levels to specific automobile performance needs
(e.g., preventing rolling motions).
Tires, of course, are of fundamental importance in both basic
control and to the overall driving experience. They are the subject
of intense research, with various nanomaterials found to improve
wear and abrasion resistance as well as provide improvements in
fatigue resistance. Carbon black, one of the early synthetic nanomaterials, is widely used in rubber tire production to improve mechanical properties and manufacturability. Other nanomaterials, such as
silica nanoparticles, are being explored for use as well to improve
basic tire properties and overcome many existing problems with
carbon black. In other areas, electrorheological approaches are
being tried for use to vary tire stiffness and aid in driving control
in much the same way as described for active suspension systems.
In light of the need to develop more environmentally friendly and
recyclable materials, tires are viewed as a target for innovations in
this area. Various elastomer and inorganic oxide formulations, for