519
the nature of products produced by the toy industry in recent years
as a consequence of the miniaturization of electronics.)
Other industries have different specific drivers. The aerospace
industry, for example, has long been both a developer and user
of advanced technologies in many areas. In addition to obvious
drivers related to aircraft operation and safety—the vast potential
of nanotechnologies in relation to electronic and electromechanical control systems deserves special remark here—the industry is
also always necessarily concerned with both carrying capacity and
speed. These factors have obvious positive economic value in several
ways. Operating costs, particularly fuel, remain a major industry
problem. Various components within the industry seek to achieve
different balances among capacity, speed, operating costs, and user
pricing, depending on their markets. The demise of the Concorde
reminds us that very highperformance aircraft capable of high
speeds can fail if capacities are limited and needed price structures
to support costs are high.
Fuel is a major cost component in any balance equation in the aerospace industry. Fuel consumption, in turn, is dependent on many
factors, including propulsion efficiency—an area in which nanomaterials can contribute in a number of ways that are far beyond
the scope of this summary to consider. Fuel consumption is also
highly dependent on weight. Hence there is an everpresent press to
reduce weights of all system components and infrastructures so that
higher payloads can be carried. The emphasis on reducing weight
characterizes many of the pushes underlying explorations of many
systems. Within supporting electronic and communication systems,
the aerospace industry is poised to be a major benefactor of the
electronics industry’s push toward miniaturization that is producing higherperformance products that are smaller, lighter, and easier
to integrate. The same push toward lightness is also undoubtedly a
major driver in the development of many nanocomposite materials for mechanical and structural applications. In no other industry
do the ideas of strengthtoweight or stiffnesstoweight ratios have
equal relevance or importance as design drivers.
As noted in earlier chapters, many nanocomposites can truly play
significant roles here. Aggressive exploration and use of nanocomposites, even if still relatively expensive, can potentially pay off due
to the high values of final products as well as the fact that surprising
numbers of aircraft are actually produced from similar designs. Obviously, all the other unique property characteristics of nanomaterials (thermal, electromagnetic) will be contributors to the improved
Aerospace, Textiles, Sports, and Other Industries
the nature of products produced by the toy industry in recent years
as a consequence of the miniaturization of electronics.)
Other industries have different specific drivers. The aerospace
industry, for example, has long been both a developer and user
of advanced technologies in many areas. In addition to obvious
drivers related to aircraft operation and safety—the vast potential
of nanotechnologies in relation to electronic and electromechanical control systems deserves special remark here—the industry is
also always necessarily concerned with both carrying capacity and
speed. These factors have obvious positive economic value in several
ways. Operating costs, particularly fuel, remain a major industry
problem. Various components within the industry seek to achieve
different balances among capacity, speed, operating costs, and user
pricing, depending on their markets. The demise of the Concorde
reminds us that very highperformance aircraft capable of high
speeds can fail if capacities are limited and needed price structures
to support costs are high.
Fuel is a major cost component in any balance equation in the aerospace industry. Fuel consumption, in turn, is dependent on many
factors, including propulsion efficiency—an area in which nanomaterials can contribute in a number of ways that are far beyond
the scope of this summary to consider. Fuel consumption is also
highly dependent on weight. Hence there is an everpresent press to
reduce weights of all system components and infrastructures so that
higher payloads can be carried. The emphasis on reducing weight
characterizes many of the pushes underlying explorations of many
systems. Within supporting electronic and communication systems,
the aerospace industry is poised to be a major benefactor of the
electronics industry’s push toward miniaturization that is producing higherperformance products that are smaller, lighter, and easier
to integrate. The same push toward lightness is also undoubtedly a
major driver in the development of many nanocomposite materials for mechanical and structural applications. In no other industry
do the ideas of strengthtoweight or stiffnesstoweight ratios have
equal relevance or importance as design drivers.
As noted in earlier chapters, many nanocomposites can truly play
significant roles here. Aggressive exploration and use of nanocomposites, even if still relatively expensive, can potentially pay off due
to the high values of final products as well as the fact that surprising
numbers of aircraft are actually produced from similar designs. Obviously, all the other unique property characteristics of nanomaterials (thermal, electromagnetic) will be contributors to the improved
Aerospace, Textiles, Sports, and Other Industries