Hsu noted his team is conducting research on nanoparticles of metals, their size effect, adhesion to surfaces and shear deformation mechanisms. Their research also looks at nanoparticles reaction or attachment to traditionally nonreactive surfaces such as ceramics, glass, carbon or graphite.
The future of nano based manufactured lubricants is very bright, Hsu observed during his presentation, Challenges and Opportunities of Nanotribology, on May 19. It could provide an independent way for wear control of machine elements aside from anti-wear additives such as ZDDP and TCP. ZDDP is zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, and TCP is tricresylphosphate.
The lubricants part of the research by Hsu and his team deals with true colloidal solutions in the presence of lube additives. For example, he explained, graphite lubricants aggregate when degraded. We are developing nano additives that are very stable and covered by a monolayer of functional molecules, he said, adding that this opens up a new door to solving an old problem.
In the last two decades nanotechnology has been a challenging field for the experts and researchers in the lubrication industry, Hsu remarked. The term, which refers to the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale, was coined in the 1980s and popularized by the MIT professor and engineer K. Eric Drexler.
Nanotechnology is a burgeoning scientific and corporative business. Besides that fact that it is a huge business, its growing and changing, Hsu indicated, adding that between 2001 and 2009, the U.S. government has invested on average $14 billion annually on research and development in this field, including $10 billion in 2009.
There are 60 large networked research centers for developing nanotechnology in the U.S., while the Nano Business Alliance, formed in 2003, counts around 500 member companies, he observed, adding that 2,000 companies are manufacturing products using nano based materials. Nano Business Alliance is a U.S. association that helps the emerging business of nanotechnology and micro systems for corporations, start-ups, researchers, universities etc.
Nanotechnology is also a hot topic in Europe, where both public and private sectors are constantly increasing spending in the field. Most of the public investments in nanotechnology are coming from European Union investment funds for specific industries and technologies such as biotechnology or enabling technologies.
Current global investments in nano inserted materials and nano composites are worth $30 billion to $50 billion annually. Around 2,000 American companies are manufacturing products using nanoparticles, Hsu said. What happens now is that the nanoparticles area is emerging as the dominant focus for research and development in nanotechnology. Many nanotechnology patents are filed world-wide, he pointed out.