For several years now, nanotechnology has been on the forefront of research at both the academic and corporate levels. According to a study by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., although the recent global economic recession dampened the optimistic expectations and strong growth patterns of previous years, the global market for products incorporating nanotechnology is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11.1 percent between 2010 and 2015 to reach $2.4 trillion.
The report also states that products incorporating nanotechnology make up the largest product segment of the chemicals industry. As researchers are discovering new ways that nanoparticles can alter the performance of coatings, the possibilities seem almost endless. I recently read about two such examples. Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a “perfect black” carbon-nanotube coating that conceals an object’s three-dimensional geometry and makes it look like a flat black sheet. The 70-micron coating, or carbon-nanotube carpet, is about half the thickness of a sheet of paper and absorbs 99.9 percent of the light that hits it.