Is Nanotechnology Becoming a Big Business in the Automotive Industry?

Nanotechnology in the automobile industry is becoming a big business, and engineers find new ways to manipulate materials on an atomic scale, so new use cases arise.

FREMONT, CA: Nanotechnology is the driving force behind the revolution to benefit humankind. That does put it on an atomic scale, though the products that can be constructed in a way that may be a little larger and can range from microscopic to anything under a millimeter. While this kind of technology will have use cases in many fields, there are likely to be vast advantages in the field of the automobile in the near future, and nanotechnology is likely to have a great impact on the world of driving and vehicles. This has resulted in a growing number of breakthroughs in the field. But where is nanotechnology having the major influence in car manufacture? Read on to know more.

Engineers have learned to manipulate aluminum’s on an atomic level to create materials that are stronger while being more lightweight than the current batch of strong aluminum alloys. This makes them fuel-efficient while having enhanced durability, even in the increasingly hostile conditions found in today’s engines. It is a fact that an internal combustion engine functions better and is efficient at higher temperatures, so this is always an objective for engine designers. The world is now experiencing ways of placing ultra-thin layers of engineering ceramics on metal substrates, developing a surface that is potent of withstanding higher temperatures and wear situations.

Fuel efficiency is a feature of its weight, and even small reductions in weight can result in attaining an increased mileage. One of the best methods to cut the weight of a vehicle is to utilize lightweight materials for the structural parts and the exterior, and this is an area where nano-manipulation of materials can generate stronger, more lightweight panels and chassis that are stronger than the previous ones. Nanotechnology is responsible for the creation of plastic panels that can self-repair and reform themselves following damage.

Nanotechnology is also bettering fuel cells – the clean alternative technology to hydrocarbon fuels. Today, hydrogen is passed over a catalyst to produce hydrogen ions, which then go on to reattached to oxygen and result in energy production. The catalysts are variations of platinum nanostructures to maximize the surface area and use the greatest number of hydrogen ions, thereby boosting energy production too.

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