Nanotechnology Profiles

Nanotechnology is one of the most exciting areas of research and development in plastics today. This twenty first century advancing science is made possible by breakthroughs in our ability to understand, measure, manipulate, and control matter at a molecular scale (less than 100 nanometers in size — one-billionth of a meter). Nanotechnology has the potential to be the springboard for revolutionizing the plastics industry and will result in new technologies that will pervade every sector of our economy and impact all of our lives.

The plastics industry is on the pioneering edge of Nanotechnological research. Plastic Nanocomposites are already used in commercial applications in automotive parts, packaging films, appliances, fire-retardant plastics, antimicrobial materials and equipment housings. Plastic Nanocomposites have been used to produce automobile bumpers that weigh 60% less, but are twice as resistant to dents and scratches. Plastic shopping bags based on Nanotechnology are now in use that are lighter and emit less CO2 when destroyed. Nanoclays (nano particles from natural clay) are being used to reinforce bio based plastics that are fully biodegradable. Research in designing new polymers is progressing at breakneck speeds. The nanotechnology polymers under development include:

• Plastic that is light, transparent and as strong as steel (based upon weight)
• Self-healing plastics that can heal itself repeatedly when it cracks
• Bio based polymers that match the properties of our workhorse plastics but are biodegradable