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  NANOTECHNOLOGY Whom to Contact: Melissa Hockstad What's New | Background | Applications | Research | Funding* | Additional Information* | Articles of Special Interest* What's New EPA Issues Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program Details... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the design and format of its Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program. The program was developed to complement and support EPA’s new and existing chemical efforts on nanoscale materials under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Moving forward, EPA will consider refinements to the program based on experience and additional feedback from participants. 'Nanohybrid' Plastic May Expand Use of Biodegradable Plastic... Researchers at Cornell, led by Dr. Emmanuel P. Giannelis, are reporting development of a new biodegradable "nanohybrid" plastic that can be engineered to decompose much faster than existing plastics used in everything from soft drink bottles to medical implants. The plastic is a modified form of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), a biodegradable plastic. The article "New Biodegradable Polyhydroxybutyrate/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites" is scheduled for Fall publication in the American Chemical Society's Biomacromolecules. Congress Wants NAS to Develop Nanotechnology EHS Research Strategy... Congress has directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to develop a federal strategy for researching the environmental, health, and safety (EHS) risks of nanotechnology. In the 2008 omnibus appropriations bill signed into law in late December 2007, Congress appropriated EPA $1.9 million to contract with NAS to "develop and monitor implementation of a comprehensive, prioritized research roadmap for all federal agencies on environmental, health, and safety issues for nanotechnology." NNI Issues Strategic Plan... The National Nanotechnology Initiative has issued its updated strategic plan which outlines the goals and priorities of the initiative. The plan describes general principles that would help the government achieve goals listed in the document, including advancing a world-class nanotechnology research and development program and supporting responsible development of nanotechnology. Background "Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at dimensions of roughly one to 100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. A nanometer (nm) is one-billionth of a meter; a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers thick. Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale. "At this level, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties of individual atoms and molecules or bulk matter. Nanotechnology R&D is directed toward understanding and creating improved materials, devices, and systems that exploit these new properties." The National Nanotechnology Initiative Strategic Plan Applications in Plastics Nanotechnology contributes significant advantages to plastics applications today and will bring even more advances in the future. Nanocomposites that enhance the properties of thermoplastic resins, making them tougher, more heat-, dent- and scratch-resistant, can be processed using the same equipment and methods as "traditional" resins. Nanotechnology promises to bring about new products that would have been impossible with macro-sized materials, for example, postage-stamp sized memory chips capable of holding 25 DVDs' worth of data, or completely scratch-resistant auto body paints. Here are a few examples of how nanotechnology is changing plastics product manufacturing today: Nanocomposites. Nanoclays or nanocarbon fillers, including layered silicate nanoclays, nanotalcs, carbon nanotubes and graphite platelets in a polymeric matrix. Nanoscale reinforcing materials are used in a variety of thermoplastics, such as polypropylene, thermoplastic olefins, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene and nylon. Nanocomposites outperform standard fillers and reinforcements in raising heat resistance, dimensional stability, stiffness, flame retardancy and electrical conductivity. Typical applications include automotive parts, including body side molding, fuel-line components and interior center consoles. In electronics, polycarbonate and polyetherimide components of hard drives have been reinforced with nanotubes to give them better conductivity. Nanocomposite concentrates are being evaluated in films for enhancing barrier properties and controlling the release of additives such as biocides and dyes. Nanoclays in nylons are used as barrier layers in multi-layer PET bottles and films for food packaging. Source: Omnexus Electrically Conductive Polymer Nanocomposite Materials. Scientists and engineers at the Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, working with the University of Dayton Research Institute, have developed polymer nanocomposite materials capable of carrying or dissipating significant electrical charge. Nanotubes on the order of 50 to 150 nm (nanometers) in diameter, that are remarkably flexible and have the current carrying capacity of copper, are dispersed into a supporting polymer matrix. Electrically condcutive polymer nanocomposite materials offer substantial weight savings, flexibility, durability, low-temperature processability and tailored reproducible conductivity compared to conductive metal-filled systems. Applications could include conductive paints, coatings, caulks, sealants, adhesives, fibers, thin films, thick sheets and tubes for use the in aerospace, automotive and chemical industry markets. More information... Solar Cells. The U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and The University of California-Berkeley have developed a hybrid semicondctor-polymer photovolatic device which will be cheaper and easier to make than conventional solar panels and could be molded into the same nearly infinite variety of shapes as pure polymers. Semiconductor nanorods are be used to fabricate readily processed and energy-efficient hybrid solar cells together with polymers. The use of solar, or photovoltaic, cells -- devices that can absorb and convert light into electrical power -- has been limited because production costs are so high. More information... Nanocomposite Foams. Ohio State University engineers have found a way, using nanocomposites, to make dense plastic foam that may replace solid plastic in the future. The foam products are lighter than solid plastics, but appear the same to the eye. Potential applications include seat cushions, carpet padding, home insulation, disposable diapers, fast food container, coffee cups and packaging material. More information... Research The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), in conjunction with the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DOD) and NASA have established 24 nanotechnology research centers. NSF has established a 13-university network of user facilities, the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN), as well as the 7-University Nanotechnology Computational Network (NCN). NNI Centers and User Facilities
Guide to Acronyms
More About the Industry: History of Plastics . Other Sources of Plastics Information . Benefits of Plastics . Definitions of Plastic Resins . NAICS/SIC Codes . Processing Methods . Plastics and Health |
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 © Copyright 2007 The Society of the Plastics Industry.
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