Man is not very old to forget the invention of wheel, and
the wave of time is not out of the scene to find it hard when recalling the
beginning of computer age. Now we are at the onset of new era of science that
explores the behavior of material at their bottom, set new topics in technical
applications of polymeric materials, and expose immense opportunities in the
performance and application of materials.
Nanotechnology has currently received an exceptional
interest of researchers, technology incubators and commercial organizations to
step forward in introducing the materials having nanocomposite structure and
new performance standards.
Investigating the smallest possible particles had provided
the opportunity of exploring new performance standards for materials. New
dimensions are appearing in material processing and applications in most
disciplines of science and technology and the field of textile has no
exception. From the production of synthetic fibers from polymer melt to the
special finishing effects of fabric substrates, nanoparticles are occupying the
positions in producing the composite structure for desired effects.
Atom is known to the world since the introduction of
classical science age as an elementary unit of any material, however the functioning
of material was perceived in most cases in terms of aggregate structures. The
recent onset of nanotechnology is now demonstrating the material performance on
the basis of very small particles that are having size range of fewer
nanometers.
The word nano in nanotechnology has origin in Greek word
nanos meaning dwarf (small). Prefix nano means one-billionth part, i.e. 10-9,
for example one nanometer is one-billionth part of a meter. How large is one
nanometer! Perhaps it can be imagined by the diameter of single human hair
which is approximately 100,000 times greater than one nanometer. Nanoparticles
are atomic assembly that exhibits outstandingly different behavior than the
bulk of material. An example may be seen in ceramics which are known as brittle
and rigid materials. A ceramic material can be made deformable when their
constituent grain size is reduced to low nanometer range. Also, a small amount
of nanoparticles of a substance when included in a polymer matrix having
similar size range the resulting system exhibits an exceptional performance
level (1).
Nanotechnologies can be perceived as the design,
characterization, production, and application of structures, devices, and
systems by controlling shape and size of material particles on nanometer scale
(2). The origin of nanotechnology can be traced to a talk given by Richard
Feynman on 29th December 1959 at the annual meeting of the American
Physical Society at the California Institute of Technology, U.S.A., on the topic of There is Plenty of Room at the Bottom. Further, the term
nanotechnology was introduced by Norio Taniguchi, Tokyo University, almost 15
years after in 1974. The concept was expanded by Eric Dreklor, MIT, USA in 1986 through his book Engines of Creation: the Coming Era of nanotechnology.
Subsequently, nanoscience then became the study of phenomena and manipulation
of materials at atomic (0.2nm approx), molecular or macromolecular scales
(around 100nm).
Why to see that magnificent change in the performance of
material at nanoscale! This is the result of relatively significant increased
surface area-to-mass ratio. The same material becomes more chemically reactive
and exhibits different physical properties. Moreover, below the particle size
of 50 nm, the laws of classical physics follow quantum effects that result in
different optical, electrical and magnetic performance relative to the large
size structure of same material (2).
There is no single branch of science and technology or
industry that is not affected by nanotechnology. The development and
innovations in the next 10 years or so would even be showing stronger influence
of nanotechnology on most materials we are surrounded. To date, it has
accommodated the multiplication of applications in material manufacturing (more
importantly in polymer modification and synthesis), and computer/electronic
chips, medical diagnosis, health care, finishing formulations, energy,
automations, biotechnology, packaging, space, aircrafts, protection and
security.
