What Does
Nanotechnology Mean?
Nanotechnology is a discipline of science that involves the engineering of materials and objects at an extremely small scale – just larger than that of atoms. Nanotechnology is used across a range of industries to drive improvements that are possible only because of the special material interactions and operations that occur at the small size level with which nanotechnology is concerned.
Corrosionpedia Explains Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology gets its name from the word nanometer, which is the unit of measure it frequently uses to quantify its materials and structures. A large portion of nanotechnology falls within the 1 to 100 nanometer range. As a result of the sizes that nanotechnology deals with, the work is not visible to the naked eye. Atoms are quite a bit smaller, with most measurements in the atomic arena falling well under 1 nanometer.
Nanotechnology is used in a variety of industries. For example, nanotechnology advancements in the medical industry could revolutionize healthcare. Nanosensors could be implanted into the bloodstream to detect health risks before they occur. In the transportation industry, nanotechnology could be used to reduce friction, thereby conserving energy and removing constraints that were previously impossible to eliminate through other means.
Nanotechnology can also be used to prevent corrosion. By adding different materials together at the nanometer level, coatings can be created that:
- Have the ability to regenerate
- Have improved mechanical properties
- Sense corrosion
- Block out more wavelengths of harmful light