The smallest particles, the biggest projects
- Paper number
IAC-05-C2.7.06
- Author
Mr. Alberto Jimenez Suarez, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Talking about nanotechnology we usually think in very little particles but, probably, these particles are smaller. The term nanotechnology is used to work with particles between 1 to 100 nanometers, which is in the atomic scale. This opens many ways of evolution to every fields of science, from medicine to astronautic. Scientists, engineers or doctors see in nanotechnology a great opportunity of reaching many ideas that, till today, were only material for science fiction. Because of these opportunities, the investments in nanotechnology investigation from developed countries have increased notably last years and more than both third parts of these investments are from out of the USA with Japan to the head. Nanomaterials is one of the most investigated field, because of the need of materials with exceptional properties which are not possible to reach with the materials obtained till today. Medicine or defence are fields of investigation, but astronautic industry moves a big quantity of money and its needs of great properties to be able to work in space, so it is very interesting to investigate on nanomaterials to improve them. Its requirements are basically: great mechanical properties and low density. This is only provided by aluminium alloys, titanium and steel, which is necessary many times in spite of being very heavy; nevertheless nanotechnology investigation could obtain new nanomaterials with great mechanical properties, lower density, exceptional electrical properties and other advantages; in fact, some of these things have been already reached, although they have to be improved to be used. Carbon nanotube is one of the most investigated nanomaterials. Its tensile strength is from 10 to 100 times as high as steels one, Young modulus is around a Terapascal, electrical and thermal properties are extraordinary and its density is under 1,5g/cm3, so if we think that one of the main problems for aeronautic projects is reaching good mechanical properties with low density, this material opens the way to projects that were stopped because of their prohibitive requirements. For example, the space elevator, which consists basically in a vehicle between Earth and Space which would make this route cheaper and easier than today, requires materials with tensile strength over 65 GPa, and there is no one. Carbon nanotubes tensile strength is higher, but, till today, it is not possible to obtain large tubes from them. Recently, researchers have obtained a very concentrate carbon nanotube dispersion using a sulfuric acid-based superacid as a medium for dispersing carbon nanotubes and this is the main objective of the investigations. Probably in less than a year, the progress will be almost unbelievable. Another nanomaterials which could be useful for astronautic projects are metal matrix nanocomposites based in Al and Mg matrix whose main innovation is using an intermetallic dispersed in the matrix which makes the compound more homogeneous. They are good in corrosive conditions, resist erosion, have great mechanical properties and low density which make them good for aerospace projects. There are many other investigations which would be very useful, such us pigments to protect people and objects in the space from radiation, or nanosensors which have already been used. This seems to be perfect but we have to be careful with problems that new things can bring, for example, we don’t know exactly how nanoparticles are detected by human cells are how they could be affected. In conclusion, I think nanomaterials researching will open in near future new ways to make astronautic missions possible, so more investments in this field are necessary if we want to make possible many projects which are waiting this improvements to be launched.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-C2.7.06.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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