Preface
xvi
they influence the role that nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
might or might not effectively play. This kind of perspective reflects
the way designers think about how and where to introduce new
materials or technologies—a perspective that would be well worth
scientists and engineers interested in applications of nanomaterials
knowing something about.
The book is organized in a direct way and makes extensive use of
illustrations. The first two chapters are self-contained nontechnical
overviews of the general characteristics of nanomaterials and
provide examples of ways in which nanomaterials can be found in
both nature and in an historical context. Chapter 3 sets the broad
design context and explores fundamental design processes. Chapter
4 then reviews basic technical properties of materials as a prelude
for focusing on nanomaterials. This is followed in Chapter 5 by an
introduction to material property charts, material indices, and their
use for optimized material selection. Formal material screening and
selection procedures are also presented, providing a methodology
for comparing the benefits of using nanomaterials to other kinds
of more traditional high-performance materials.
This introduction leads into an in-depth treatment of nanomaterials that begins in Chapter 6. A major contribution here is that of
clarifying ways that various nanomaterial types can be formally
classified. Size effects and other defining characteristics of nanomaterials are explored. Specific mechanical, thermal, and electrical
properties of common nanomaterial types are detailed in Chapter
7. Processes for synthesizing and characterizing nanomaterials are
next described and illustrated in Chapter 8. Several material property charts illustrating various properties of nanomaterials are
included.
The book then turns to design or application-oriented considerations. A discussion of specific applications in common design environments—thermal, mechanical, electrical, and optical—follows
in Chapter 9. These sections broadly explore a range of nanomaterial and nanotechnology applications as they relate to these different design environments. Chapter 10 looks at applications from
specific product or industry perspectives—nanotextiles, nanopaints,
nanosealants, nanotechnologies for self-cleaning, antimicrobial or
self-healing, and others. Chapter 11 briefly examines nanomaterials in relation to health and the environment. Chapter 12 concludes with a whirlwind tour of the driving forces underlying
nanomaterial and nanotechnology developments in several
industries.
xvi
they influence the role that nanomaterials and nanotechnologies
might or might not effectively play. This kind of perspective reflects
the way designers think about how and where to introduce new
materials or technologies—a perspective that would be well worth
scientists and engineers interested in applications of nanomaterials
knowing something about.
The book is organized in a direct way and makes extensive use of
illustrations. The first two chapters are self-contained nontechnical
overviews of the general characteristics of nanomaterials and
provide examples of ways in which nanomaterials can be found in
both nature and in an historical context. Chapter 3 sets the broad
design context and explores fundamental design processes. Chapter
4 then reviews basic technical properties of materials as a prelude
for focusing on nanomaterials. This is followed in Chapter 5 by an
introduction to material property charts, material indices, and their
use for optimized material selection. Formal material screening and
selection procedures are also presented, providing a methodology
for comparing the benefits of using nanomaterials to other kinds
of more traditional high-performance materials.
This introduction leads into an in-depth treatment of nanomaterials that begins in Chapter 6. A major contribution here is that of
clarifying ways that various nanomaterial types can be formally
classified. Size effects and other defining characteristics of nanomaterials are explored. Specific mechanical, thermal, and electrical
properties of common nanomaterial types are detailed in Chapter
7. Processes for synthesizing and characterizing nanomaterials are
next described and illustrated in Chapter 8. Several material property charts illustrating various properties of nanomaterials are
included.
The book then turns to design or application-oriented considerations. A discussion of specific applications in common design environments—thermal, mechanical, electrical, and optical—follows
in Chapter 9. These sections broadly explore a range of nanomaterial and nanotechnology applications as they relate to these different design environments. Chapter 10 looks at applications from
specific product or industry perspectives—nanotextiles, nanopaints,
nanosealants, nanotechnologies for self-cleaning, antimicrobial or
self-healing, and others. Chapter 11 briefly examines nanomaterials in relation to health and the environment. Chapter 12 concludes with a whirlwind tour of the driving forces underlying
nanomaterial and nanotechnology developments in several
industries.