Nanotechnology in Automobile

Introduction:

If science can be renowned as a god’s gift for human kind then, “Nanotechnology” can be esteemed as a precious pearl in the oceanic field of science. If Darwin’s evolution of mankind, descent of man from animal is a phenomenon, then Nanotechnology can be objectified as a phenomenon that crossed many hurdles to become a normality. Many “if’s” in this world has now become few possibilities and few “why not’s” because of the continuous developments, discoveries and inventions in Nanotechnology. DR. K. Eric Drexler, renowned most commonly as the father of Nanotechnology, classifies it as a “manipulation of individual atoms and molecules to build structures to complex atomic specifications” [1]. Hence, it is usually taken at the quantum-realm scale of 1 to 100nm or in other words, one billionth of a meter. It has been discovered that materials at this level exhibit significantly different properties than their larger counterparts. Through the manipulation of matter on this scale, smaller, cheaper and more energy efficient devices, structures and systems can be designed and developed.

At present day, Nanotechnology has almost penetrated into all research fields and areas in various numerous industries and has also been mushrooming and thriving rampantly in many OEMs associated with the automotive industry and most primarily, in the hard core automotive sector. This could be validated by the survey that shows that more than 75% of the companies envisage that Nanotechnology will create a new market for them and more than 60% of the companies expect a decisive advantage from the use of Nanotechnology and believe that it will create a promising future for them, as it offers an unique potential with astounding capabilities to architect a broad array of novel materials, composites and structures on a molecular scale [2]. Such advanced progresses in Nanotechnology in the automotive industry comes at a very crucial time where, there is a paradigm shift in the industry towards greater individual mobility and more greener, cleaner and compact automobiles. There is a vital phase change in the former where, there has been an irresistible and an insatiable demand for more vehicles on road. It has been predicted by the United Nations that the vehicle fleet will get doubled from what seems as a 750 million now, to almost 1.5 billion utility and passenger vehicles by 2030 [2]. This ever growing need for vehicles could be attributed to the burgeoning markets in growing economies around the world like India, China, Brazil and Korea which, has to be sufficed with no compromises in passenger safety, intelligent traffic guidance systems, pollutant reduction and effective recycling systems [2]. Thus, it is a general consensus that Nanotechnology is perceived most imperatively as the saviour of the highly competitive automotive industry to continue to acclaim its cutting edge and to perpetuate its international competitiveness in the 21^st century.

Functionalities:

The benefits that could be reaped from Nanotechnology is simply insurmountable. Since, it is a molecular phenomenon, it improves the material’s performance by revamping and altering its fundamental structure, which in turn ameliorates its mechanical, geometrical, chemical, electrical and optical properties. Mechanically, nanotechnology breaks the grains into smaller granules that are highly deformable and simultaneously, also enhances itself with higher impact strength, greater hardness and increased fatigue strength and toughness (at low temperatures) where, it often, reigns its super elasticity (correspondingly at high temperatures). This ensures greater durability and sustainability and the material effectively becomes very light. From a geometric perspective, nanostructures have greater surface to volume ratio and most of the chemical reactions take place at the contact surfaces thus, it strengthens the material’s resistance towards oxidation, corrosion and mechanical abrasion at relatively high temperatures. It also produces electrically “sound” materials as the free flow of charge carriers, at a nanometre scale, becomes constricted due to the narrow structure of the nanoparticle and eventually, becomes distorted and scattered hence, producing higher electrical resistive and giant magneto resistive materials, with in surge of adhesive properties. In addition, optical resolution is refined at nanoscale, because there is almost zero reflection from a nanostructure and by varying the size of the nanoparticle it is possible to control the light, emitted and absorbed by the material. The chemical effect of a nanoparticle is largely dependent on its huge structure and surface area to volume ratio but, with tailor made and designed particles, it is possible to suit the consumer’s needs [2].

Applications of Nanotechnology in Automobiles:

Figure 1: Various Applications of Nanotechnology [3]

Though as seen from the figure on the left, there are a multitude number of applications of Nanotechnology in the automotive sector, “Applications in Nanotechnology”, most commonly falls into three categories namely, 1.Comfort 2.Safety and 3. Environment. Similarly, though there are many innumerable applications in the all three above areas, only a few important, highlighted ones will be illustrated in this essay, with examples.

1. Comfort:

Rider’s comfort is the foremost priority of many auto car manufacturers in the world today. It cannot be compromised for any trivial reasons because most of the automobile companies banks on the consumer’s instant gratification. Comfort in this essay, is taken in a different context – to satisfy the customer, with the product, on the very first sight.

Through Nanotechnology, many areas of comfort in car could be upgraded such as rear view mirrors, windscreens and painting of the rolling chassis. It is very significant, that the paint on the impeccable body shell shouldn’t get worn out in a few washes or from several years of operation. Hence, by adding nanoparticles like AEROSIL R9200, it is attainable to implement paints with scratch resistant and self-cleaning properties. AEROSIL R9200, further effects pigment stabilisation, rheology control and amplifies the corrosion resistant properties in the body surface. Also, utilising unique types of silica tetrachloride (resulted from flame hydrolysis), produced by gas synthesis processes under a flame, interconnects the paint material’s fibres and matrixes, which in turn, induces a highly compacted and organised convolute structure with tripled scratch resistant properties. Similarly, polymer glasses that are coated with acrylate or polysiloxane, is intensified  with  aluminium oxide nanoparticles during its hardening stage, that brings greater abrasive resistance with solid impact strength to its structure. In addition, applying hard materials during physical and chemical vapour deposition procedures, together with plasma polymerization, bridges the organic and the likewise, the rear view mirrors and windscreens are coated with ultra-thin layers of aluminium oxide in vacuum vaporization facilities that help to keep evaporation defects to a near minimum and also, reduces the strain experienced and at the same time, exhibits extremely high optical quality and efficiency. The oleophobic and hydrophobic layers of varying thickness from 5-10 nanometres (i.e. Cotec came up with fluor-organic material) resulted due to chemical vaporisation processes, produces exceptionally even surfaces, where it is easy to clear off the dirt, dust and oil. Such topographic feature on the mirrors improves the visibility of the rider by miles [2].

Figure 2: Schematic diagram of self-clean mechanism [4]

Figure 3: Diagram showing Nano wiper in Operation [5]

Figure 4: Adjustment surface properties on glass plates [6] 

2. Safety:

Traffic jams and congested streets have very much become a general human landscape of 21^st century, dotted by numerous and frequent accidents. This has often become a common sight for many pedestrians across the world. In such exigency and tensed situation, Nanotechnology has brought in fruitful solutions. Producing compact and light weight vehicles, but not trading off with the active and the passive safety features in a car, during the time of collision and before the time of collision is a mammoth task for most car manufacturers. This is when, Nanotechnology has resurrected itself and seized and swept the automotive market by its embedded particles of metallic carbon nitride that almost quadruples the fixed strength of steel (which became outdated after 1970 because of its weight) and results in ultra-strength, lighter steels by dispersion hardening processes. These steels strengthen the outer body of the car as well as the safety cage inside a car thus, timely, securing the passengers during accidents. At the same time, adhesives developed by Nanotechnology also revives the metal gluing and detaching of components and also improves the relative manufacturing methods for producing ultra-strength steels [2]. This in turn, also makes the body of the car more durable for any sudden impacts and roll overs thus, safe guarding its passengers ad reducing the causalities of accidental cases.

3. Environment:

Green-house gases has agglomerated and tainted our earth over the years. Though its dire effects were not visible about a decade ago, it has become very prominent now and in fact, the destruction and the mere damages that it has dimed periodically are unaccountable. It is a general belief by most of the leaders, researchers and scientists of various countries, around the world that, grave danger ascribed by the continuous melting of the polar ice caps and the rising sea levels is imminent. It had daunted us once with the raging tsunamis and it will do so again in the near future too. Therefore, emission norms for vehicles and many industries have become stringent over the years in a feeble attempt to reduce the greater damage already done to the environment. This has effected in many auto car manufacturers continuously looking for alternative measures to reduce the emission of combusted gases after final drive. With Nanotechnology, it might be resolved by coating the catalysts, in the catalytic converter with minute nanoparticles that elevates the honeycomb structure and exalts its surface area to further reduce the combusted gases to lesser harmful pollutants [2].

TRENDS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY:

Figure 5: Pie-Chart Shows the share of patent around the world. [7]

From the pie chart (Figure 5), among all the countries surveyed, USA (49%) and Japan (25%) possess considerably more patent and it can be predicted that, they will be assuaged as role models who will lead in the commercialization of nanotechnologies and eventually revolutionize the automotive industries, with timely innovation that will make the economy of tomorrow. It is distinct nanotechnology has numerous applications that could give an impetus advantage for most car manufacturers. [8]

Figure 6: Overview functionalities of recent trends in Automobiles [9]

From figure 6, it is observed that the future automobiles are going to be equipped with the following features;

·   Lightweight: High strength nanocomposite plastics are expected to replace metal and thus reduce weight and radar signature.

·  Smart components: In future, components are going to be fabricated, with a built-in condition and load monitoring sensors, which, in long term will possess self-repairing or self-healing properties. 

·  Adaptive structures: Active structures that adapt to changing conditions such as adaptive camouflage, suspension, flexible/rigid etc.

·    Stealth: Radar absorption coatings, camouflage.

·   Armour: Nanoparticle, nanofiber reinforced antiballistic structures, reactive nanoparticle armour, and shock absorbing nanotubes.

·   Position sensing and signalling: GPS for navigation and with EAS for tracking and tracing vehicles.

·    Identification: RFID - Tags for remote identification.

·  Security: Radar, bolometer (infrared) for surveillance, and acoustic arrays for sniper detection.

Wireless networks: Vehicle internal sensor network will become wireless; connection to distributed external network [8].

Conclusion:

In the 21^st century, the evolution of science and its breakthroughs can be engendered to the near existence of mankind as it has always backed humans in times of detrimental situations and crisis and had made them to live through centuries. Most significantly, for years to come, Nanotechnology, a very promising field of science will mark its stature in the industry and might even evolve as one of the reasons for a thriving mankind in the ecstatic future. As far as the automotive sector is concerned, many researches are undergoing in the areas, such as fuel cells, solar cells and also, in the nano-composites. Besides these numerous researches, Nanotechnology is also currently playing a pivotal role in the automotive industry by enabling various enhancements ranging from the development and integration of sensors to the improvement of a vehicle’s aesthetics. This is the reason why, many auto car manufacturers across the world has pumped in millions of dollars into this field of expertise, to remain competitive in the market. Germany is one such country, which has automotive industry as its third highest revenue earning industry, has been investing millions of dollars into the industry to execute a phenomenal change. Likewise, the European Union has invested about 1.2 billion dollars and U.S. and Japan has invested about 3.7 billion and 750 million dollars respectively [3]. Unfortunately, the scale of usage of nanotechnology has been limited by the high price and the industrial availability of nano-materials. Despite these challenges, it is safe to envision that as technology advances and nano-materials become more commercially available, nanotechnology will be a major contributor to ensuring future generations of automobiles are safer, greener, more comfortable, and more energy efficient.

In conclusion, definitely the prospects and the never ending opportunities in the field of Nanotechnology are shining and very encouraging. With glittering hopes, propitious years to come, our sincere visionaries are pinned on the industry to bring a promising future for the world and its inhabitants.

References:

1.   Waller, E., D.H.R, S., Myers, B., Shah, S., Ihms, D., Chengalva, S., Parker, R., Eesley, G. and Dyksta, C. (2010). Nanotechnology Applications in Future Automobiles. SAE – 2010-01-1149, Published-04/12/2010.

2. Werner, M. (2008). Nanotechnologies in automobiles. Wiesbaden: essisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklung.  “Nanotechnologies by automobiles” by Hessen Ministry of Economy,Transport, Urban and Regional Development, www.hessen-nanotech.de.

3.  Simonis, F. and Schilthuizen, S. (2006). Nanotechnology innovation opportunities for tomorrow’s defence. 1st ed. [ebook] TNO Science & Industry, p.22. Available at: http://www.futuretechnologycenter.eu/downloads/nanobook.pdf

[Accessed 19 Nov. 2014].

4.   Azonano.com, (2014). Nanotechnology and Nanoscience Information | AZoNano. [online] Available at: http://www.azonano.com [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

5.   Nanowiper.com, (2014). Nano wipers - invisible wipers - liquid windshield wiper. [online] Available at: http://www.nanowiper.com [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

6.    Anon, (2014). [online] Available at: http://www.hessenanotech.de/mm/NanoAutomotive_web [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

7.   Werner, M. (2008). European Patent Office (EPO), Scheu 2004: Nanotechnologies in automobiles. Wiesbaden: essisches Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Landesentwicklung. “Nanotechnologies by automobiles” by Hessen Ministry of Economy,Transport, Urban and Regional Development, www.hessen-nanotech.de.

8. Research-in-germany.de, (2014). Research in Germany - Home. [online] Available at: http://www.research-in-germany.de [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

9.   Anon, (2014). [online] Available at: http://www.hessenanotech.de/mm/NanoAutomotive_web [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

10.  Nano.gov, (2014). Nano. [online] Available at: http://www.nano.gov/ [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

11.  Publishyourarticles.net, (2014). Do you want to publish your articles? – Publish Your Articles. [online] Available at: http://www.publishyourarticles.net [Accessed 29 Nov. 2014].

Author: Abhishek Kumar Jaishwal, SenthilKumar Subramanian, Esiri Afabor