Nanomaterials – the driving force

The growth in activity surrounding nanomaterials continues unabated as more R&D funds are poured into nanotechnology and companies look to exploit the expanding range of novel properties that are being discovered. Advances in existing production techniques are improving the quality and yields, providing a clear prospect of commercially viable volume production. There is still a wide range of processes being used, and it is clear those that will be commercially successful will be those for which the materials have been developed at the same time as the application. Recent reports from a number of working groups have highlighted the need for increased examination of the health, environmental, and ethical aspects of nanotechnology, and this is an area that the industry will need to understand more fully and take appropriate action on if the benefits of nanomaterials are to be realized.