Nanotech in Civil Engineering : Nano-coatings

By: Joshua De Paul

Have you ever wondered how the Grand Canyons were

formed? Was it always like this? What happened to them that
formed these large holes in them? These are things we've studied to
make sure structures we build today have a less chance of that happening to them.

The materials we use to build our

structures, such as cement, clay, wood etc, are
not indestructible. Sure we can break them with
human force, but we actually need less force to
break them. Believe it or not, water can break
them! Water, snowfall, rain and thunderstorms
are just some factors that contribute to the
breaking down of these materials.

This process is called weathering.

Weathering is the deterioration of rocks, soils
and minerals as well as wood and artificial materials through contact with water, atmospheric
gases, and biological organisms. These are the same materials we make everyday structures with,
from our homes to large complex buildings.

To protect against naturally occurring events, we use nano-coatings. Nano-coatings are

an extremely thin layer of microscopic particles that are used to fill up every pore of a material's
surface. The thickness of these layers can be from 1 to 100 nanometres (1 x 10-9m). Through the
process of applying nano-coatings on materials, the materials go through a change on a
molecular level.

Nano-coating can be a game-changer in many different ways. We obviously use them to

protect against weathering. By applying nano-coatings, we can make a material be protected
from corroding away. It doesn't stop there as it can also help materials be fire-resistant,
scratch-resistant, and improve the hardness of a material as well. It can also help materials to be
resistant to bacteria and in other cases offer better insulation. These are just a few applications of
nano-coatings out of many.
 There are so many of them, however, they all work in unique ways to better suit their
purpose. Some of the most common nano-coatings you see almost every day are repellent
nano-coatings. Any surface, from a brick wall to glass still has holes in them. Not ones you can
poke through but rather a bump in the way. When looking at it through a microscope, you can
see the dents on the material. This is how things such as dirt and water get attached to these
materials. When these nano-coatings are applied they fill up the smallest crack in the material.
It’s called nano for a reason because of how small it is and thus, able to fill in these dents and
provide protection. They are so seamless and small, when you think you're just touching the
glass, think again! When filling in these
gaps, it makes the surface extremely
smooth, making it hard for dirt and water
molecules to stick on to it. First, when
applied, it creates a self-organized
hydrophobic layer. This layer is on the
scale of atoms! From there, these particles
are strongly attached to the material and
ensure dirt, water, oil, grease and acid
particles simply roll off of the material.

There is still much more to learn about nano-coatings as this is just one out of the many
of them in the world and one out of the many applications it has. Nano-coatings aren't just
applied to hard materials such as concrete, but even fabric! Fabric coated with copper
nanoparticles are used in many industrial areas to prevent the spread of germs. There are even
masks that have been infused with these nanoparticles. Nano-coatings are even able to withstand
up to 350℃. The list of their uses and applications can go on forever, that's how extremely
versatile and useful they are!
References
"Nano-Coatings - An Overview". Science Direct, 2021,
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/nanocoatings. Accessed 26 Dec 2021.

"What Is Nano Coating And What Are The Types Of Nano Coating Producs".
Nanocareproducts.Com, 2021, https://nanocareproducts.com/about-nano-coating/. Accessed 26
Dec 2021.

image. 2021, https://www.musement.com/uk/las-vegas/grand-canyon-v/. Accessed 26 Dec 2021.

image. 2021, https://nanoslic.com/about-nanocoatings/nanotech/. Accessed 26 Dec 2021.

Society, National. "Weathering". National Geographic Society, 2021,

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/weathering/. Accessed 26 Dec 2021.