Nanomaterials
A nanomaterial is basically a material whose individual units (10-9 meters, billionth of a meter ) lie in a size between 1 and 1000 nanometers.
- 3.1 criticism
Natural nanomaterials
Some examples from nature: The fine structure of foraminifera and viruses ( capsid ), the wax crystals on top of a lotus or watercress leaf, silk ( like caterpillars, spiders, spider mites silk and linen ), the exoskeleton of arthropods ( with feet, antennae and mouthparts ), the adhesive hairs on gecko feet, butterfly scales, collagen, natural colloids ( such as milk, blood), keratinized tissue ( such as skin, claws, beaks, feathers, horns, hair ), vascular bundle, xylem, cotton, mother of pearl, coral and our bone matrix are natural organic nanomaterials.
Natural inorganic nanomaterials are the product of natural erosion ( clay minerals ) and / or volcanic activity ( opal ), as well as forest fires. Targeted burning arise mineral pigments, cement, fumed silicas, etc.
Lotus effect, water-repellent effect with self-cleaning ability
Close up of the underside of a gecko foot, which on a glass wall running ( adhesive hairs: 200 × 10-15 nm).
SEM image of the fine structure of a Butterfly Scale ( × 5000)
Peacock feather (detail)
Brazilian Opal. The opalescence produced by reflection and interference of light between the silica spheres (150 to 400 nm).
Lycurgus cup, glass, 4th century, Roman. Gold and silver nanoparticles ( 70 nm) dispersed in colloidal form provide for the two-tone ( dichroism, red / green).
Synthetic Nanomaterials
Materials consisting of fullerenes (carbon " footballs " or nanotubes ), carbon blacks or nanoparticles are composed (nanoparticles, metals, metal and semi-metal oxides, metal sulfides, semiconductors or polymers).
Market size
The world market for (mainly synthetic) nanomaterials is estimated for 2011 at 11 million tons with a value of 20 billion euros.
Attempt at a legal definition
As nanomaterials by the European Commission since October 18, designated 2011 materials from nano-objects (1 nm to 100 nm) in the unbound state, ie of aggregates or agglomerates composed, and more than 50 percent of nano-objects in the have number -weighted particle size distribution. This includes spending all natural waste in processes and materials produced. Until December 2014, this definition should be reviewed in the light of experience and of scientific and technological developments.
France wants to register before import to a draft law of such defined nanomaterials. In contrast, the Federal Environment Agency ( Germany ) proposes a uniform European regulation and registration of all products containing nanomaterials.
Criticism
Is criticized in the definition, that it was too broad and thus also centuries old materials such as mineral pigments or everyday products would be covered. Thus, materials composed of coarse particles, and contain a little abrasion, is regarded as nano- material, while a fine powder did not fall with a narrow grain size distribution and a mean value of 110 nm falls within the definition.
In addition, no reliable measurement method exists, clearly can not be classified using the everyday powder as a nanomaterial or.