News/Editorials / Editorials / Press Releases / Papers

Nanotechnology from Imerys
by Dr. Phil Jones, Director, Technical Marketing & New Ventures

Nanotechnology relates to the unusual behavior of matter at dimensions between 1 and 100 nanometres, nm. One nm and below relates to the sizes of atoms with their quantum mechanics effects, while above 100nm we see the usual bulk properties of materials. Thus, in between, we see a hybrid of properties. Some of the materials we produce have nano dimensions and we have become used to their “unusual” properties. For example, what used to be called colloid chemistry, where bulk property measurements allowed one to deduce structure, is now benefiting from nanotechnology. We are able to use devices such as the atomic force microscope to see the atomic nature of materials and understand better the properties of materials.

Imerys is in the forefront of these discoveries, having the technology and expertise to explore these
possibilities.

Government spending on nanotechnology.



Governments around the world have been increasing their spending on Nanotechnology since 2000 to the extent that the U.S., Europe, Japan and the collective rest of the world are each spending $1 Billion per year, upwards. Industry is spending at similar levels giving a total global spending of $8 Billion. The last time we saw this level of spending was for the moon shot. The U.S. has also been setting up a number of Nanotechnology centers based around key Universities and Government Labs at a cost of $40 to $80 million for building each facility. Of the order of 30% of the Nanotechnology programs funded relate to materials science and will have some relevance to Imerys.

In October 2004 I initiated and ran a workshop on Nanotechnology with Ted Wegner of the US Forest Products National Lab. We invited a number of experts from Industry, Academic Institutions and Government who mapped out the potential opportunities to use nanotechnology in Forest products. The outcome was a roadmap, published and now downloadable from www.nanotechforest.org. The identified theme areas have been endorsed by the US Paper industry’s CTO (Chief Technology Officer) and CEO committees of AF&PA (American Forest and Paper Association). Currently we are working with the other platform areas of Agenda 2020 (such as Biorefinery, Breakthrough Manufacturing Technology, Sustainable Forestry and Solid wood) to build in plans for Nanotechnology in these areas. Imerys has a seat at this table and we are actively involved in building the forward plans.  In Europe a similar exercise has produced a roadmap called “Nanoforest” which outlines similar opportunities, which are being built into a European Community funded initiative on Forest-based Technology Platforms.
http://www.fbs-research.com/program.htm

Many of the minerals we mine and sell have nano dimensions which can be seen in micrographs. These micrographs show the platelets of Contour 1500 (a pigment for very light weight coated paper) as being a few tens of nanometres thick. We are looking to take advantage of these features in terms of mechanical, optical, barrier and print interactions. These represent new classes of kaolins that we have previously avoided mining because of their high viscosities and perceived low value. They are now showing their worth through our ability in understanding their function. The market is emerging and we have shipped recently 6 tons of another nano material with a value of $60,000 for a proprietary application. Further opportunities lie ahead.

Other companies have already entered the nanotechnology market with 50 nm sized calcium carbonates and silicas for paint which give a higher degree of toughness than conventional fillers. We are also seeing self cleaning paint where a combination of surface nano-roughness with a hydrophobic surface provides a material that is like the lotus leaf and allows water to easily remove dirt. In addition, bentonites of 1 nm are being used to provide enhanced barrier coatings for food and carbonated drinks packaging as well as in retention aid systems.

The high global investment in nanotechnology research will have consequences for Imerys and we have the opportunity to benefit from the diverse range of pigments we have and the large number of markets we serve. Let us move forward together in our company, as world leaders in our field, to seize this opportunity. • • •