Nanotechnology and Commodities Database

Structure and Properties of Natural Rubber and Montmorillonite Nanocomposites

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:42:50 +0000

Researchers from the Petroleum and Petrochemical College at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand have found that nanocomposites of natural rubber and modified montmorillonite, a mineral clay, have superior curing properties and mechanical properties in comparison to natural rubber compounds made with conventional high structured silica or carbon black fillers.

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Nickel and Iron Nanoparticles for Improving the Properties of Natural Rubber Composites

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:35:19 +0000

Researchers from the National Research Centre in Egypt have investigated the mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties of natural rubber composite materials containing different concentrations of magnetic iron and nickel nanoparticles and determined the optimum concentration of such nano-fillers for improving physico-mechanical properties.

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Nanocomposite Tires Outperform Conventional Tires

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:29:06 +0000

U.S. company NanoProducts Corp. reports that it has used its proprietary PüreNano silcon carbide nanoparticles to produce prototype elastomeric nanocomposite tires with superior skid and abrasion resistance over conventional materials. The article says that the nanocomposite tires were shown to perform better than tires made with additive-free materials and those made with composites containing conventional additives such as nanoscale fumed silica.

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Membrane Made from Organic Waste Matter Could Help Crops Conserve Water

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:21:11 +0000

Researchers from the University of Stavanger in Norway have developed a nanoporous membrane made from organic waste materials, such as seaweed, fish bones, and manure, that can prevent water loss from soil and plant roots and regulate soil temperature in regions that are excessively arid, hot, or cold. Tests performed on the membrane in the desert soils of Nigeria indicated that the technology reduced the need for irrigation by 30 to 50 percent. Different pigments can also be added to the membranes to increase or decrease sun reflection, depending on whether the soil requires heating or cooling.

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Sugar and Starch-Based Nanoparticles for Use in Adhesives, Coatings, and Plastics

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:17:22 +0000

U.S. biomaterials company Ecosynthetix says that nanoparticles derived from sugar and starch can replace the petroleum used in adhesives, coatings, inks, and plastics. Ecosynthetix CEO John van Leeuwen said that, unlike petroleum, these nanoparticles come from renewable crops. The article says that starch nanoparticles have 400 times the surface area of natural starch particles and, therefore, require less water to be useful in adhesives. Van Leeuwen said, “You get higher output due to reducing the cooling time needed, and there’s also less warping of the paper due to lack of heat, which leads to higher paper strength.” The article says adhesives for making corrugated cardboard were a US$3 billion industry in 2003. The article says that the nanoparticles could also have applications in petroleum-based inks and toners.

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Nanotech-Based Reactor for Converting Vegetable Oil into Biodiesel for Use in Vehicles

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:15:28 +0000

A chemical engineering professor at Oregon State University has developed a small chemical reactor that can convert vegetable oil directly into biodiesel for use in vehicles. The article says that the device could help farmers convert some of their crops into fuel for their agricultural equipment in place of expensive oil. The article says that the device, which is about the size of a credit card, pumps vegetable oil and alcohol through nanoscale channels and converts it into biodiesel. The article says that conventional methods of biodiesel production can take over a day and require the use of catalysts. According to the article, the device can be stacked in banks to produce commercial volumes of biodiesel. The article says that production of biodiesel on farms could lower distribution costs by eliminating the need for tanker truck fuel delivery.

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New Nano-Product Called BioSilicon for Enhancing Foods’ Shelf Life, Traceability, and Nutritional Value

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:12:41 +0000

Global bionanotechnology company pSivida Limited is funding a new spinout company called pSiNutria Limited to develop BioSilicon, an ingestible ingredient in food packaging. BioSilicon may be used in food applications to detect pathogens in food, for food tracing, for food preservation, or to detect variations in temperature during food storage. The article says that BioSilicon is particularly attractive for these applications because it is biodegradable, turning into easily digestible silicic acid in the body. The article says that this development is important because greater attention is being focused on foods’ quality and origin because of concerns of bioterrorism and food-borne pathogens. It also says that food manufacturers are interested in extending the shelf life, traceability, and nutritional value of foods while maintaining its flavor. pSivida says that there is potential to introduce some products to the market in a relatively short time period because of the relaxed regulatory environment towards therapeutic products.

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Corn and Potato-Based Nano-Filler Material to Improve Strength of Biodegradble Fibers

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:07:45 +0000

KRI, Inc. a Japanese nanotechnology research company, has developed a method to double the strength of biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) fibers made from corn and potato. KRI used a proprietary filler material made from an organic substance derived from corn and potatoes to increase the binding strength between the fiber’s molecules. KRI is working to commercial the technology for mass production within two years. Unlike synthetic fibers like nylon that use petroleum as their raw input, PLA fiber naturally decomposes, making it suitable for products such as transparent films for protecting agricultural fields from rain and pests.

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Nanotechnology for Food and Beverage Packaging

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 19:54:12 +0000

A new study by research and consulting firm Helmut Kaiser reports that global sales of nanotechnology products to the food and beverage packaging industry have increased from US$150 million in 2002 to US$860 million in 2004. The study says that were about 250 nanopackaging products on the market at the time of the study compared to fewer than 40 such products three years earlier. Nanotechnology can enable packaging materials with gas and water permeabilities that can be tailored to meet the requirements for preserving specific fruits, vegetables, beverages, and other foods. Nanoparticles can also be added to packaging materials to improve fire-resistance and mechanical and thermal properties. The study says: “In the long run, nanotechnology is going to change the fabrication of the whole packaging industry. Processing the atoms and molecules will realize zero-emission recycle and save natural resources. Self-assembly will in the end hugely reduce the fabrication costs and infrastructure. More flexible packaging methods will provide the consumers with fresher and customized products.”

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NanoLogix and Welch Foods Sign Agreement for Hydrogen Bioreactor that Uses Organic Matter from Grape Product Waste Streams

lfatehi — Fri, 25 May 2007 19:44:45 +0000

NanoLogix, Inc., a U.S. nanobiotechnology company, has entered an agreement to install a hydrogen generation system based on its proprietary technology that will use organic matter from the waste streams of Welch Foods, a U.S. producer and marketer of grape juice, jelly, and other grape-based products. The article says, “Once successfully accomplished, this has the potentiality for solving the world energy crisis through the limitless production of hydrogen from any waste organic materials, such as sewer water, ground up garbage, etc.”

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