Advances in automobiles with nanomaterials: A Review

Dinesh Kumar Sharma M.Tech. III Semester, Thermal Engineering Kautilya Institute of Technology & Engineering, Sitapura, Jaipur Email ID:shreemd@yahoo.co.in Ram Kumar Agarwal Department of Mechanical Engineering Kautilya Institute of Technology & Engineering, Sitapura, Jaipur Email ID:ramyoga99@gmail.com

Abstract: Nanotechnology is the fastest growing technology and its use is also making impact in almost every field. In this context, nanomaterials are playing vital role in production and industries due to their improved mechanical properties. Likewise Automobile industries also welcomed nanomaterials for their better conductivity and strength. Nanomaterials are very good to improve performance parameters of engine as well as reduction in emission characteristics. This review paper emphasizes on potentials of nanomaterials that is useful in automotive industry. Automobiles are required not only strength and other mechanical properties but also style and attracting features. Nanomaterials are very promising features to avail all of these dreams true. I.Introduction A great amount of research activity has been done about nanotechnology in recent years. Nanotechnology is defined as any technology that deals with structures or features in the nanometer range or that are having at least one dimension less than 100 nanometers, its about one-thousandth the diameter of a human hair, the scale of the atom or of small molecules. Below about 1 nm, the properties of materials become more familiar and predictable, because of its range accessing to atom size. This ability makes this technology fundamentally improved for each and every field. In this manner, nanostructures have the ability to generate new features and perform new functions that are more efficient than or cannot be performed by larger structures and machines. Due to the small dimensions of nano-materials, their physical/chemical properties (e.g. stability, hardness, conductivity, reactivity, optical sensitivity, melting point, etc.) can be manipulated to improve the overall properties of conventional materials. At nanometer scales, the surface properties start becoming more dominant than the bulk material properties, generating unique material attributes and chemical reactions. Delocalized electronic states as in a metal or a semiconductor are altered by the finite dimensions. Hence, the optical properties, including light absorption and emission behavior, will be altered, The fact that nanoscale features are smaller than the wavelength of visible photons also impacts light scattering, enabling the design of nanocrystalline ceramics that are as transparent as glass. This property makes nanomaterials to create more featured designs for automobiles. The most significant nano-structures investigated to date are made from single atomistic layers of carbon like hollow ball shaped Buckyballs (Fullerene - C60), carbon nano-tubes (CNTs) and graphene sheets which have a very interesting range of mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. It should be notify that environmental and health effects of nanomaterials are not too much stdied till date but it is getting widely acceptance in various industries.

Automotive industry is one of the industry which is required frequently updation in design and features to be in competition all time. Nanotechnology for automotive industry is getting popular due to this reason. II.Why nanomaterials in automobiles The most promising automotive applications of nanotechnology include the following: Improved materials with CNTs, graphene and other nanoparticles/structures Improved mechanical, thermal, and appearance properties for plastics Coatings & encapsulants for wear and corrosion resistance, permeation barriers, and appearance Cooling fluids with improved thermal performance Joining interfaces for improved thermal cycle and crack resistance Metal alloys with greater mechanical strength Metal matrix and ceramics with improved mechanical properties Solder materials with crack resistance or lower processing temperature Displays with lower cost and higher performance Batteries for electric vehicles and fuel cells with improved energy capacity Automotive sensors with nano-sensing elements, nano-structures and nano-machines Hybrid electric vehicles using electrical interconnects for high-frequency and highpower applications Self-assembly using fluid carriers Some of these automotive applications and specific examples are reviewed in more detail in this paper.

Figure 1. Automotive Applications III.Nanomaterials for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions The rapidly increasing price of conventional fuels and limited availability promotes researcher to work on engine efficiency. Nanomaterials and nanotechnology is very helpful in this manner, efforts have been made in form of nano power booster and nano fuel additives.

Nano Power Booster USA, Inc. has a solution to fuel challenges. Based out of Nicholasville, Kentucky the company officially launched on August 22, 2008. They offer a product that has been tested and proven to increase fuel efficiency by up to 25 percent and reduce carbon emissions by up to 60 percent. Unlike other fuel saving products, including liquid additives, pills, and magnets, the Nano Power Booster clip when installed as directed, does not alter a vehicle's engine makeup or function in any way. Using applied fusion technology, the clip installed around the incoming fuel line realigns the molecules so that they burn quickly and completely. This process maximizes the efficiency of engine and value of money. It is also very eco-friendly by reducing amount of toxic gases by proper combustion. Other than this nanotechnology can improve fuel and lubrication efficiency by following ways:Fuel additives: Fuel additives also helpful in improving fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Commercial systems for diesel fuel engines have been developed based on cerium oxide powders. This sytem delivers low parts per million (ppm) concentrations of The powder to the combustion chamber of diesel engines which catalyses a lower combustion temperature and cleaner burning. This reduces 5-10% fuel consumption and a great amount of reduction is available for emissions. This a drop-in arrangement for fuel additives with the help of a meter to add optimized amount of powder. Tribological improvements usually relating to surface coatings or improved lubricating oil systems. This helps to improve lubricating oil properties by addition of metal carbonates colloids, which is of range of nanoparticles. These carbonates neutralize the acids generated during the chemical processes in combustion and contribute to prevent corrosion as well as improve engine efficiency and reduced emissions. Nanotechnology also take credit to remove sulphur, metal and phosphorus content from the lubricants. Nano structured ceramic coatings on components within cylinder, improves better fuel efficiency. Improved catalytic converter that improve air quality and replacing application of platinum group metals in achieving equivalent air quality (i.e. pollution abatement justification rather than carbon saving). One another nanotechnology application in automotive industry is Nano metallic engine oil, it is fabricated by dispersion technology having Cu-Fe nano powder. This oil offers self repair function which can recover damage of cylinder inner surface and form coating film of copper. It can be served as ball bearings to reduce friction between moving parts. Nano particles ca be formed as a film to protect the leakage of fuel under combustion process to enhanced fuel saving and save 3.12% of fuel consumption. IV.Nano-composites Nano-composites are materials that incorporate nano-sized particles into a matrix of standard material such as polymers. Adding nanoparticles can generate a drastic improvement in properties that include mechanical strength, toughness and electrical or thermal conductivity. The effectiveness of the nanoparticles is such that the amount of material added is normally only 0.5-5.0% by weight. They have properties that are superior to conventional microscale composites and can be synthesized using simple and inexpensive techniques.

A few nano-composites have already reached the marketplace, while a few others are on the verge, and many continue to remain in the laboratories of various research institutions and companies. The global nano-composites market is projected to reach 1000 million pounds by the end of the 2014, as stated in a report published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Nano-composites comprising nanoparticles such as Nano-clays (70% of volume) or nano-carbon fillers, carbon nano-tubes, carbon nano-fibers and graphite platelets are expected to be a major growth segment for the plastics industry.

Figure 2: Nanocomposites

How Nano-composites works? Nanoparticles have an extremely high surface-to-volume ratio which dramatically changes their properties when compared with their bulk sized equivalents. It also changes the way in which the nanoparticles bond with the bulk material. The result is that the composite can be many times improved with respect to the component parts. Why Nano-composites? Polymers reinforced with as little as 2% to 6% of these nanoparticles via melt compounding or in-situ polymerization exhibit dramatic improvements in properties such as thermo-mechanical, light weight, dimensional stability, barrier properties, flame retardancy, heat resistance and electrical conductivity. Current applications of Nano-composites Applications of nano-composite plastics are diversified such as thin-film capacitors for computer chips; solid polymer electrolytes for batteries, automotive engine parts and fuel tanks; impellers and blades, oxygen and gas barriers, food packaging etc. with automotive and packaging accounting for a majority of the consumption. The automotive segment is projected to generate the fastest demand for nano-composites if the cost/performance ratio is acceptable. Some automotive production examples of nano-composites include the following: Step assist First commercial application on the 2002 GMC Safari and Chevrolet Astro van; Body Side Molding of the 2004 Chevrolet Impala (7% weight savings per vehicle and improved surface quality compared with TPO and improved mar/scuff resistance); Cargo bed for GM's 2005 Hummer H2 (seven pounds of molded-in-color nano-composites); Fuel tanks (Increased resistance to permeation); under-hood (timing gage cover (Toyota) and engine cover (Mitsubishi).

Key challenges for Nano-composites for faster commercialization Develop low cost and high production volume to meet fast to market needs. Develop fast, low cost analytical methods with small quantity of samples which can provide a degree of exfoliation and degree of orientation, (TEM, XRD, Rheology considered too expensive and time consuming) for example, IR can detect silicon-oxygen bond in clay, which can help to evaluate degree of clay dispersion. Develop in-line testing of nano-composites. Develop alternative nano-clay treatments for better adhesion of nano-filler to polymer. Improve understanding the effect on performance by blending nano-fillers with conventional reinforcements such as glass fiber. Prediction of orientation / flow modeling. Understand the rheology and chemo-rheology of the polymer composites. Cost/performance ratio to substitute HIPS (High impact polystyrene), PC/ABS (Polycarbonate/Acrylonitirile-Butadiene-Styrene) and PC (Polycarbonate) with TPO (Thermoplastics Polyolefins). High stiffness without affecting impact properties. Future of Nano-composites Nano-fillers are expensive compared to conventional fillers, so one must use them wisely depending on the final part performance requirements. In many cases, it may be cost effective to use nano-filler where it is needed such as on the top layer of a part surface or middle layer of thickness or localized areas of the part (nano-composite pre-molded inserts). Widespread replacement with nano-composites may require extensive re-tooling because of differences in shrinkage rates. Recent news of an innovative method of growing carbon nano-tubes may revolutionize the implementation of nanotechnology. Use of Nano-polypropylene (PP) for value added substitution such as high cost engineering plastics or development of molded-in-color nano-composites to replace glass-filled, painted PP for interior applications such as instrument panels will see major growth. Functional nano-composites development is underway such as functionalized clays which add properties to clay including anti-static and moisture repellent characteristics and selective chemical barriers. Ultraviolet-curable nano-composites (electronics) and foaming and nucleating effect of nano-fillers (improve properties, desirable cell size and density, use of microcellular processes such as MuCell) will be commercialized soon. There is potential for body panels and large moldings to substitute for steel, aluminum, magnesium and Sheet-Molding Compound (SMC), where thermoplastics are currently excluded due to inadequate physical or mechanical performance. There is a need to develop a low cost, carbon nano-tube based composite for high-end engineered plastics. For designers, there is a need to develop flow simulation software with or without a hybrid fiber-filled system (including orientation effect and warpage) so output can be used directly for structural analysis. There are also many opportunities for development of new fillers and improvements such as nano-composites of a new nano-ceramic fiber, titanium dioxide (TiO2), magnetic particles, carbon nano-tubes and other molecularly reinforced polymers. Mixtures of different nano-materials or combinations of nano-materials with traditional additives are increasingly being considered.

V.Nano-materials for tires Nanomaterials can be useful in the modification of automobiles tires. One report by US media circulates that materials used tires is not too good for better quality so it can be very promising and helpful to use nanomaterials for improvement of quality. It will provide better binders, enhanced life and performance. VI.Shock absorbers Shock absorbers provide the comfortable ride we experience today in vehicles ranging from sports cars to sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. Nanotechnology specifically magnetic nanoparticles are advancing shock absorber capabilities further than ever before.

Figure 3: Nano materials for shock absorbers Magnetic fluids are comprised of magnetic nanoparticles in a fluid suspension. Depending on the size of the nanoparticles, the magnetic fluid may be able to change its apparent viscosity in proportion to the strength of the magnetic field applied to it. Therefore, the viscosity can be controlled dynamically, which allows for active damping. Large amounts of mechanical power can be controlled with a small amount of electrical power, making this method of vibration control much more efficient than traditional. Some magnetic fluids can transform themselves into a nearly solid state, making it possible to adjust the stiffness thousands of times per second. Shock absorbers based on magnetic fluids, therefore, provide a very smooth ride and can be adjusted to the individual wishes of the driver. Shock absorbers based on magnetic fluids are used today in the Audi Le Mans Quattro. Energy is derived from the electronic control system, and the on-board computer adjusts the shock absorbers based on information provided by sensors that detect the actual driving situation within a few thousandths of a second. The driver can switch between a sporty feel, where the magnetic fluid is at low viscosity, and a more comfortable ride, where the viscosity is set at a higher level. VII.Coolants The rising cost of fuel continues to make the headlines on a daily basis. Consumers are focused now on purchasing vehicles with increased fuel efficiency. Automakers are looking for technology that will improve the fuel efficiency of even the largest SUVs on the market. Nanomaterials have the potential to do just that. Nanoparticles when added to heat transfer fluids increase their performance. The solid nanoparticles conduct heat better than the liquid. Nanoparticles work best because they stay suspended in liquids longer than larger particles. They also have a much greater surface area, which is where heat transfer takes place.

Nanoaditives, including nanoparticles and nanopowders, could potentially reduce the size of automotive cooling equipment while increasing its heat transfer capabilities. Engines and other components could also be smaller and lighter, providing a lighter weight vehicle. In addition, engines could potentially run at more optimal temperatures. These factors would lead to more fuel efficient automobiles. Reduced consumption of fuel would also result in reduced emissions to the environment as well. Numerous other potential applications exist in the automotive market for nanomaterials from Strem. Areas currently under investigation include spark plugs using nanoscale metal and ceramic powders, nanocatalysts for octane enhancers, fuel additive for diesel engines, seatbelts, and vehicle leveling sensors. VIII. Conclusions The automotive industry will be influenced by the development and implementation nanotechnology. It is a hope to raise the ideas of nanotechnology to get positively influence the automotive industry. Due to atom size of nano materials, their physical and chemical properties can be manipulated to improve the overall properties of conventional material. This technology is useful as economic purpose as well as environmental also. Coolants utilize nanoparticles and nano-powders to increase the efficiency of heat transfer and potentially reduce the size of the automotive cooling equipment. Some manufacturers are currently using nano-magnetic fluids in shock absorbers to increase vibration control efficiency. Wear-resistant, hard-surface nano-coatings are being investigated for applications in bearings, cylinders, valves, and other highly stressed components. So, it is very useful and economical to get help of nanomaterials in the improvement of existing components and in development of latest technology that could increase the features as well as strength. IX. References 1. SAE Journal, Edward Wallner et al, 2010, Nanotechnology Applications in Future Automobiles, Dec,2010.
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