29
most of solutions and solutes. Due to excitation of surface plasmons, nanoparticles
can be employed in biomedicine, energy, and environmental protection (Garcia 2011).
The unique properties of nanomaterial make them preferable in a variety of areas
like tribology and surface engineering. Mechanical properties of material such as
tensile, yield, strength, and toughness are greatly dependent on grain size and their
boundaries. Since grain size and boundaries are numerous and their distribution
alters through materials, the mechanical performance of conventional materials is
adversely affected. It is quite possible to modify both grain size and boundaries,
thanks to nanotechnology. Nanotechnology provides us to make the grain size bigger and thereby improve their mechanical behavior. Studies have revealed that the
modulus of polystyrene nanospheres, silicon nanoparticles, increases with a
decrease in the particle size (Mook et al. 2007).
2.2 Applications of Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials have a variety of applications due to their unique physical, chemical,
optical, and mechanical properties. Their applications cover various products
including food packaging, sporting goods, apparel industry, car paints and waxes,
antibacterial cleansers, cosmetics, fuel catalyst, super capacitors, batteries, electromagnetic interference shielding, solar cells, chemical sensors and biosensors, drug
delivery systems, environmental remediation and, so on (azom). In conclusion,
nanomaterials are making their ways into all aspects of lives (Chaudhry 2012).
Some application areas of nanomaterials are summarized below.
The main reason for using nanomaterials is strongly dependent on the goal to be
achieved. While for some applications, surface area per unit mass is more beneficial, and control over chemical and biological activities are preferred for other
applications (Chaudhry 2012).
Structures with various properties such as fullerenes, nanodots, nanotubes, graphene, nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanowire have already been on the market.
These materials can offer highly beneficial functionalities. Among this material
class, carbon nanotubes (CNT) are promising to replace conventional steel due to
their superior mechanical properties. The strength of carbon nanotubes can be as
high as 63 GPa, while the tensile strength of steel is about 1.2GPa (Purohit et al.
2014). This provides them to be in the class of strongest materials produced by
nanotechnology.
In electronics, there are some reasons for such poor performance and these
include contamination, inefficient heat dissipation and bad contacts. Materials with
significantly high purity and relatively better thermal conductivity can be produced
by nanotechnology. Also, more durable contacts can be formed by convenient nanomaterials. Thus, the performance of electronics is enhanced (scitechdaily). In case
of microelectronics industry, miniaturization of device elements is a key challenge.
The elements such transistors, capacitors, and resistors can be reduced in size,
thanks to nanotechnology and this enables microprocessor to run faster. Also,
2 Nanomaterials and Human Health
most of solutions and solutes. Due to excitation of surface plasmons, nanoparticles
can be employed in biomedicine, energy, and environmental protection (Garcia 2011).
The unique properties of nanomaterial make them preferable in a variety of areas
like tribology and surface engineering. Mechanical properties of material such as
tensile, yield, strength, and toughness are greatly dependent on grain size and their
boundaries. Since grain size and boundaries are numerous and their distribution
alters through materials, the mechanical performance of conventional materials is
adversely affected. It is quite possible to modify both grain size and boundaries,
thanks to nanotechnology. Nanotechnology provides us to make the grain size bigger and thereby improve their mechanical behavior. Studies have revealed that the
modulus of polystyrene nanospheres, silicon nanoparticles, increases with a
decrease in the particle size (Mook et al. 2007).
2.2 Applications of Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials have a variety of applications due to their unique physical, chemical,
optical, and mechanical properties. Their applications cover various products
including food packaging, sporting goods, apparel industry, car paints and waxes,
antibacterial cleansers, cosmetics, fuel catalyst, super capacitors, batteries, electromagnetic interference shielding, solar cells, chemical sensors and biosensors, drug
delivery systems, environmental remediation and, so on (azom). In conclusion,
nanomaterials are making their ways into all aspects of lives (Chaudhry 2012).
Some application areas of nanomaterials are summarized below.
The main reason for using nanomaterials is strongly dependent on the goal to be
achieved. While for some applications, surface area per unit mass is more beneficial, and control over chemical and biological activities are preferred for other
applications (Chaudhry 2012).
Structures with various properties such as fullerenes, nanodots, nanotubes, graphene, nanoparticles, nanofibers, and nanowire have already been on the market.
These materials can offer highly beneficial functionalities. Among this material
class, carbon nanotubes (CNT) are promising to replace conventional steel due to
their superior mechanical properties. The strength of carbon nanotubes can be as
high as 63 GPa, while the tensile strength of steel is about 1.2GPa (Purohit et al.
2014). This provides them to be in the class of strongest materials produced by
nanotechnology.
In electronics, there are some reasons for such poor performance and these
include contamination, inefficient heat dissipation and bad contacts. Materials with
significantly high purity and relatively better thermal conductivity can be produced
by nanotechnology. Also, more durable contacts can be formed by convenient nanomaterials. Thus, the performance of electronics is enhanced (scitechdaily). In case
of microelectronics industry, miniaturization of device elements is a key challenge.
The elements such transistors, capacitors, and resistors can be reduced in size,
thanks to nanotechnology and this enables microprocessor to run faster. Also,
2 Nanomaterials and Human Health