Nano Technology

Nano Technology is concerned with the research, production and application of materials with ultra-fine structures engineered at the nanometre level (<100nm) - an area of science which is occupying an ever-more important role in our daily lives.

One nanometre (nm) is a millionth of a millimetre (mm) or the thousandth of the thickness of a human hair. Thus, nanotechnology deals with the tiny world of atoms and molecules. For example, placing four to six atoms directly beneath each other consumes a length of only 1 nm.

Metallic, ceramic and organic nanoparticles with a diameter of 5 to 100nm are the result of the application of NNT Ar-Ge's unique process technologies, setting new world records. For more than 15 years, NNT Ar-Ge has been at the forefront of manufacturing boron-based nanomaterials, which have been applied to numerous products.

The controlled fabrication of materials at the atomic level together with the utilization of phenomena, which occur at the nanometre scale, fosters an abundance of new applications. Possible application areas are technology hot spots such as energy and environmental engineering, materials, pharmacy, medicine and many more.

At the nanometre level, there is no difference anymore between chemistry, biology and physics. These disciplines converge to a field appropriately named nano science. If molecules can be formed in a way such that each atom has its predefined place, we are able to synthesize arbitrary solids and liquids.

Nanotechnology is considered the trend-setting area of research for the couple of decades with an enormous market potential. Experts and media agree that nanotechnology is the key technology of the 21st century.

NNT Know-How

NNT's scientists and engineers have invested 15 years of research and development into the production and verification of nano-structured boron compounds obtained using detonation techniques. NNT is able to produce these materials in considerable quantities. The nano-structured boron compounds are produced by combining the elements of Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Oxygen with boron derivatives with a negative oxygen balance. Latter means that the oxygen content is lower than the stoichiometric value. The non-oxidizing atmosphere and the pressure/temperature conditions during the detonations foster the formation of diamond-like boron compounds.

NNT can control the formation of different types of boron-based nano-crystals of various sizes and chemical decomposition, such as

• boron diamond powder (MCDP)
• nano boron (NBN)
• cubic boron nitride (cBN)

Among all types of nano-materials produced by NNT, MCDP is one of the most interesting due to the broad spectrum of possible applications in various technical fields. MCDP is a diamond-like composite material that consists of boron-carbon (80-89%), nitrogen (2-3%), hydrogen (0.5-1.5%) and oxygen (up to 10%) as well as a small amount of incombustible residue atoms (0.5-8%). The distribution of these ingredients and impurities added through the production process are the key parameters that determine the physical and chemical of MCDP. NNT has developed unique process technologies that allow reproducing specific key parameters by carefully selecting the pre-cleaning and detonations parameters. X-ray powder diffractometry, electron microscopy and IR spectroscopy are applied to regularly to monitor the quality of the product.

NNT Ar-Ge is the first enterprise in the world which is able to produce 4-5 nanometre sized MCDP crystals in large quantities using detonation techniques. The unique characteristics of these nano-particles make plenty of applications possible, from super heat conducting materials for cooling micro chips and curable plastics with properties similar to iron to electro-chemically and chemically deposited ultra-hard metal layers and aluminium alloys with incredible levels of hardness and strength.

Another important application is tribological materials, which drive friction and abrasion in working mechanical systems almost to zero. This lowers the maintenance and part replacement cost of machines.

The friction reduction furthermore decreases the energy consumption, leading for example to a lowered fuel consumption of a car (10-15% less petrol or Diesel).

NNT Ar-Ge adds these tribological materials to motor and gear oils, which are used in industry and the automobile sector. The MCDP crystals are also applied in the medical section (tumour treatment) as well as the military and the sensor system area.