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With automotive manufacturers striving to match stricter emission norms set by regulatory authorities, they have begun considering nanotechnology as a necessity. With precise structuring and exceptional physical and mechanical properties, nanomaterial-based products have the potential to redefine energy and materials applications.
“Their ability to replace expensive platinum in fuel cells that are more environment-friendly than regular gasoline cars, are expected to act in their favour,” said a study from Frost & Sullivan.
Take for instance NanoLub, a lubricant developed based on compounds discovered at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, had nano-spheres and nanotubes of inorganic compounds. The particles have a unique structure of nested spheres that lubricate by a special mechanism — greatly reducing friction and wear.
The pursuit of zero-emission technologies in transportation has become de rigueur and the use of nanotechnology for zero-emission in future transportation is one of the means that has shown great promise. Several of these are also a reality today.
The use of nanotechnology through a few newly-developed materials help manufacture low-emission, low-cost, light-weight and electric vehicles. According to Henning Zoz, president, Zoz Group, Germany said: “The use of nanotechnology for zero-emission future transportation can transform modern lives.”
For example a breakthrough in this direction was ZementR, a fast setting, high strength cement; WPCR (wood plastic composite) that utilises 80 per cent wood powder waste and 20 per cent plastic to provide advantages of plastic.
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