FRIDAY FEATURE: Nanomaterials for structural engineering

Interview with Stefano Mariani
Dept. of Structural Engineering
Politecnico di Milano
Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32
20133 Milano (ITALY)

By Nanoposts.com

1. What is the benefit of using nanomaterials?

Nanomaterials, as shown by recent researches, can be embedded in standard materials to strongly enhance their mechanical or physical properties. Hence, the applicability of products (like sensors) under extremely adverse environments and/or under severe loading conditions can be envisaged for the years to come. Otherwise, as in the case of nanoresonators for PCs, the performance of current products can be strongly increased.
Furthermore, novel applications can be proposed on the basis of newly discovered smart properties of nanomaterials.

 
2. What factors do you envisage that will allow for the transition from concept to product in nanotechnology?

Surely, the reduction of costs is of paramount importance to allow the adoption of nanotechnology in the next generation of products. This could be similar to what the MEMS technology is experiencing; the current proliferation of products in fields like automotive industry is mainly due to the strong reduction of production costs.
Furthermore, as already mentioned in my previous answers, when first facing new materials new, unexpected mechanical problems might appear (I had some experience in the MEMS technology). Resolution of these problems, sometimes requiring the development of new theories of the adaptation of former ones, is necessary to later ensure low incidence of product failures.