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Applications of Nanotechnology in Automobile Industry

Research · October 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.3821.8960

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 Applications of Nanotechnology in
Automobile Industry
Steevan Sequeira
Manipal Technologies Limited
Abstract: The emergence of nanotechnology in  Reduction in Fuel Consumption etc.
th1980’s was caused by convergence of
experimental advances such as the invention of LOTUS COATINGS
the scanning tunneling microscope in 1981 and
the discovery of fullerenes in 1985. Now the
nanotechnology products are used in various
fields such as medical, material science,
automobile etc. In this topic the various
applications of nanotechnology in the automobile
industries have been discussed.

INTRODUCTION
Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter
on an atomic and molecular scale. Generally
nanotechnology works with material, devices
and other structures with at least one
dimension sized from 1 to 100nm. The lotus effect refers to the very high water

Nanotechnology was begun 30 years ago. repellence exhibited by the leaves of the lotus

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology can be used flower. Some nanotechnologists have

across small things and can be used across all developed treatment, coatings, paints and other

other science fields such as chemistry, physics, surfaces that can stay dry and clean themselves

material science and engineering. Today’s in the same way as lotus leafs. Lotus coatings

scientists and engineers are finding a wide are composed of hydrophobic nanoparticles of

variety ways to deliberately make materials at silsesquioxanes containing adhesion promoter

the nanoscales to take advantage of their groups and low surface energy groups. When

enhanced properties such as high strength, these coatings are applied to the vehicles they

lighter weight, increased control of light will cause the water to bead into small droplet

spectrum and greater chemical reactivity. In and roll off the surface without getting the

engineering their applications are mainly found surface wet. These coatings also prevent the

in fabrication, mechanics and infrastructure dust from adhering to the surface of the
vehicles thus preventing the surface from
APPLICATIONS IN AUTOMOBILE corrosion. The paints made by this technology
INDUSTRY have a self-healing property. Ships and boats
 Lotus Coatings which receive such coat on their bottoms can
 In Windshields not only move faster, but also fuel
 Reduction in weight of Vehicles consumption as water repellent property

 Better Batteries reduces friction drastically.

 Fuel Cells
 Catalytic Converters

1
IN WINDSHIELDS the steel. Also weight of the vehicles can also
be reduced by decreasing in the weight of the
chassis this can be achieved by using cast
aluminum alloys at near atomic levels.

IN CATALYTIC CONVERTERS

Another of the advanced applications of

nanotechnology in vehicles involves the
production of mirrors and side panels that are
made out of nanoparticles. Being so they filter
the rays of the sun, smoke and other pollutants
in the atmosphere. The same technology
allows radio and phone signals as well as
sound waves to freely enter the cars so that
Catalytic converters made of nanotechnology
occupants of the vehicles are not made
use the nanomaterials to prevent the platinum
oblivious to the world outside. The mirrors
from aggregation so that less platinum is
made up by this technology have higher
required for each converter. The key
stiffness and high transparency rate. By
development is to coat platinum nanoparticles
applying the nanoparticle coatings to the
with the porous silica layer. Because of its
windshields the fog formation over them can
weak interaction with the platinum, the silica
be eliminated completely. Researchers are
coating provides an energy barrier that holds
going on to produce coatings made up of
the platinum in place even at very high
silicon so that solar energy could be utilized
temperatures, preventing aggregation and
directly from windshields.
maintaining catalytic activity. Experiments
show that the silica-coated platinum
REDUCTION IN WEIGHT OF
maintained its catalytic ability (about 7500C) at
VEHICLES
much higher temperatures than uncoated
In contemporary cars, a large share of the
platinum, which began to aggregate at
vehicles weight is due to the weight of engine
0
temperatures as low as 350 C.
and transmission system of the vehicles. As a
result, vehicles require more fuel to push
REDUCTION IN FRICTIONAL LOSSES
forward such machines. Nonetheless with the
advent of alloys, engines were made lighter
somewhat but not them to make fuel efficient.
With nanotechnology engines and parts were
made much lighter, thus eliminating the need
to consume more fuel just to push the vehicle
forward. In this regard Carbon Nanotubes are
In vehicles the major energy loss is due to the
used which have 100times lesser weight to that
friction losses. By adding certain
of the steel but are much stronger than that of

2
 nanomaterials like boric acid particles to the  Maintenance of the automotive
motor oils there will be reduction in the can be minimized.
friction. The result can be 4-5% reduction in
fuel consumption. REFRENCES
Introduction
ADVANTAGES www.nano.org.uk/what-is-nanotechnology
 In automobiles nanomaterial Lotus Coating
coating can prevent the corrosive http://en.percenta.com/nanotecholgy-lotus-
materials from corrosion. effect.php
 They decrease the frictional, tear Windshields
and wear losses thus they www.nanowerk.com/news/newsid=1157.php
decrease the rate of fuel Catalytic converter
consumption. www.phy.org/_news204827696
 They are extremely small and Reduction in weight of vehicles
light weighted but are harder than http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/04/ford-
materials like steel, iron etc. turns-to-n/
 Plenty of raw materials are In Catalytic Converters
available for the manufacture. http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2007

 They are durable for number of /October/10100701.asp

years etc. Reduction in Frictional Losses

DISADVANTAGES http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News/2007/

 Presently nanotechnology is very ES070803.html

expensive as its production cost Nano Automotive.pdf, Hessen nanotech,

is high. Germany

 Some of the industries like steel Carbon Nanotubes Manufacturing and

and diamond production Applications – A WTEC International Study

industries could be effected in by Pulickel M. Ajayan

adverse.
 Impact of nanotechnology on the
environment is still unknown.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank the HOD & Staff of the mechanical
department of Srinivas Institute of Technology
for their constructive suggestions.

CONCLUSION
 Though the nanotech products
are expensive they increase the
performance of the automobile
tremendously.
 Life of parts of the automobile
will be increased

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