Application of Nanotechnology in Automobiles

Application of Nanotechnology 

in Automobiles

What is Nanotech?

Nanotechnology – Art and science of manipulating atoms and molecules to create new systems, materials, and devices. 

How Big is a Nano? 

Nano = 10,000 times smaller than that of a human hair!

Goals for application of nanotechnology: 

• Environment - 1)Hydrogen and Fuel cells                                                            2)Catalysts                                                                                     3)Resource Efficiency
• Safety -           1)Active Safety                                                                             2)Passive Safety                                                                           3)Easy to Clean
• Comfort -        1)Passenger Wellness                                                                   2)Product attractiveness and easy care      

                               

Possible future applications:

•Gecko effect in car body 

•Switchable materials(Rheology) 

•Super Caps 

Nanotechnology for

•Car body and Corrosion protection 

•Improving fuel injection 

•Reduction in exhaust emission 

Car body:-

Nano Steel:

Embedded nano particles of metallic carbon nitride can effectively increase the strength of steel. 

•High strength to take care of the high intensity impact during crash. 

•Light weight would also lead to reduced fuel consumption and thus economy in operation. 

Nano Steel--->> ”INFINITE STRENGTH”

Nano Steel is a leader in nano-structured steel materials design, 

delivering new classes of steel to address complex modern 

challenges that steel remains best positioned to solve. 

“GM Ventures investment in NanoSteel demonstrates 

its confidence in our company’s potential to achieve 

widespread impact on the auto industry through our 

proprietary steel designs,” said Dave Paratore, president and 

CEO of NanoSteel. 

Corrosion Protection:-

SiO2 Nano Particles: 

By the use of nanotechnologies it has been made possible to 

enhance protection by the use of SiO2 nanoparticles, while widely used Chrome III (Cr3+) does not offer long term protection . 

•In contrast to Chrome-VI, Chrome–III (chemically:Cr3+) does not

have “long-term protection”. 

•The passivation achieved through galvanization processes consists of a Cr3+ enriched layer and a layer containing SiO2 nanoparticles in a Cr3+ matrix. 

•Nano passivation is suited for zinc and zinc-iron layers. The layer thickness is approximately 400 nm.

Corrosion protection and self-healing of the surface. If the zinc 

layer is exposed due to damage, the SiO2 particles migrate to 

the damaged location and cover it successfully for parts of 

chassis,brakes and doors. 

Fuel injection:-

Piezo injector:

•Piezo-ceramic materials allow realizing higher forces and speeds in comparison to conventional actuators for fuel injection. 

•Nano crystalline piezoelectric materials are used (Lead-Zirkone Titanate) in injectors. 

Piezo injectors enable several finely dosed injections per combustion cycle in powerful diesel engines at 1600 bar 

injection pressure.
"Delphi's new gasoline direct injection technologies have been designed to cut cost and high precision".(image below)

Exhaust Emission:-

Catalyst reducer:

•The impact of catalysts generally depends on the size of the surface, Nanotechnology plays crucial role here. 

•High-grade steel housings that include catalytically active materials used for the conversion of pollutants to nitrogen, steam and carbon 

dioxide. 

Arrow mark shows Pt nano particles(measured by STM)

Conclusion:

The smaller, quicker and highly productive are trademarks that are becoming strategically important for international

competitiveness.Thus, nanotechnology has a significant impact 

in the nature of materials making it a decisive advantage for the automobile industry. 

By,

Agarshna Murari

Ashwin Nambi