Nanomaterials
Advances in Nanomaterials and Their Applications
Nanomaterials, including carbon nanofibers and nanotubes, are being explored extensively for their use and application in multiple manufacturing domains. One of the most eager manufacturing sectors to incorporate nanomaterials into their midst is the athletics gear and sporting industries. Tennis rackets, surf, skate, and snow boards, skis, ski poles, boats, bicycles, hockey sticks, baseball bats, golf clubs and balls are all potentially transformed by the use of nanomaterials. Other athletics applications of nanomaterials include sports stadium materials, artificial turf, running track surfaces, clothing, and gymnasium equipment (Chunyan, 2011). While nanomaterials are proving promising from design, implementation, and development perspectives, there are also significant safety issues that need to be taken into consideration by engineers, manufacturers, and industry regulators.
The root word "nano" comes from the Greek meaning dwarf because the particles are extremely small and require special technologies for visualization as well as manipulation (Hickman, 2002). Earliest manifestation of nanoparticles in manufactured goods is as old as ancient Roman glass from 2000 years ago "where clusters of Au (gold) nanoparticles were used to generate vivid colors," (Pitkethly, 2004, p. 20). In the Middle Ages, evidence of similar nanoparticles in ceramics have been recorded (Hickman, 2002; Pitkethly, 2004). However, these were unintentional uses of nanoparticles. Modern uses of nanotechnology began in the 1940s, with the production of carbon black and fumed silica (Pitkethly, 2004). The term "nanomaterials" and "nanotechnology" became used in the 1960s (Pitkethly, 2004). Since the 1980s, research into nanomaterials and product development applications has grown exponentially, with recent research applications in almost every conceivable field of manufacturing.
A nanoparticle is about one fifth the width of a human hair (Hickman, 2002). They are considered to be in the size range between quantum and atomic; the materials are subject to the laws of atomic physics. Nanomaterials behave differently from their traditional counterparts in terms of their reactivity, color, melting points, freezing points, strength, and bonding with other materials. With nanotechnology, it becomes possible to manufacture goods at the atomic level and to have tremendous control over the outcome and behavior of the product. With traditional "bulk" materials, only a "relatively small percentage of atoms will be at or near the surface or interfere," whereas with nanomaterials, "many atoms…will be near interfaces," (Hickman, 2002). Energy levels and electronic structures of materials are thereby affected, and the ability to reshape and manipulate the object is greatly enhanced.
Nanomaterials are made from different base substances, which is why there are metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and composite nanomaterials (Hickman, 2002). Nanomaterials can also assume various shapes, including spheres, flakes, platelets, tubes, rods, and dendritic structures (Pitkethly, 2004). Carbon nanofibers are generally defined as those with a diameter range of 3 -- 100 nm, and a length range of 0.1 -- 1000 µm (DeJong & Geus, 2007, p. 481). Interestingly, carbon nanofibers were originally considered a "nuisance" by-product emerging from the catalytic of gasses containing carbon (DeJong & Geus, 2007, p. 481). Metallic fibers were often the catalysts used to create the by-product of carbon nanofibers (DeJong & Geus, 2007). Carbon nanofibers are similar to nanotubes in their features, especially as they are relevant for the product design fields. In addition to being chemically similar to carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers are chemically similar to fullerenes (DeJong & Geus, 2007, p. 481). Fullerenes were named after architect Buckminster Fuller, who after beholding the geometric form of hollow carbon spheres at the microscopic level discovered a new range of materials to propel forward research into nanotechnology. Their special features have propelled carbon nanofibers into the repertoire of product developers and designers. Recent innovations have been promising enough to promote private and public funding inputs to stimulate further research at the academic level and at the development level. Within private industry, the promises of developing sporting equipment that enhances athletic performance or increases athletic success in a competitive environment are what drives the industry forward.
Lighter-weight equipment including baseball bats, tennis rackets, hockey sticks, surfboards, skis, ski poles, snowboards, and other currently heavy items will be easier to transport. This could mean a reduction in carbon emissions in the long run, as manufacturers and retailers also save money on transportation costs. Consumers can also transport these materials more easily, in their cars, on their person, or on an airplane. Kayaks and other small craft using nanomaterials would be easier to carry as well, making outdoors sports more...
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