Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
an abundant, renewable, and sustainable raw material base; (2) a manufacturing infras-
tructure that can process wood resources into a wide variety of consumer products; and
(3) being uniquely positioned to move into new, growth markets centered on bio-based
environmentally preferable products. Nanotechnology, as it is envisioned, will further
enhance the industry's ability to produce new high performance consumer products from
lignocellulosic-based materials in a safe and sustainable manner.
While the focus of nanotechnology research may seem to be on determining
the nanoscale properties of materials, it is really achieving nanotechnology-enabled
macroscale end products that are most important. Nanotechnology must be viewed as
an enabling technology versus an end in itself. To most rapidly make scientific and
technology advancement, the focus for nanotechnology research must have an end
use application or product in mind. The range and magnitude of benefits offered by
nanotechnology science and engineering research and development can only be realized
if the technologies are accepted and deployed by industry to produce economically-
viable products that consumers want and need. Therefore, it is important that research
efforts be focused on high-impact, high-priority activities that will be the most critical
to commercial producers of nanomaterials and nanoproducts. It is absolutely critical to
build our nanomanufacturing science and technology knowledge base so nanomaterials
exhibiting unique nanoscale properties can be controllably placed into components
or systems, retain and combine their unique nanoscale properties in a matrix of
other materials, and result in superior products. Industrial input and influence on
nanotechnology science and engineering serves to help guide activities into the highest
priority and most productive areas. The US forest products industry has identified six
priority nanotechnology application areas. These six areas are to use nanotechnology to
(1) achieve lighter weight, higher strength materials; (2) produce nanocrystalline fibrils
from wood; (3) control water interactions with cellulose; (4) produce hyperperformance
nanocomposites using nanocrystalline cellulose fibrils; (5) capture the photonic and
piezoelectric properties of lignocelluloses; and (6) reduce energy usage and capital
costs in processing wood to products. Lastly, understanding the health risks and taking
appropriate action to mitigate risks to health, safety, and the environment that result
from exposure to or introduction of engineered nanoscale materials, nanostructured
materials, and nanotechnology-based devices is an extremely important consideration
in responsibly moving nanotechnology forward - for both wood-based nanomaterials
and nanomaterials and devices that are produced by other industry sectors that are
incorporated into forest products.
References
Aizenberg, J., Weaver, J., Thanawala, M., Sundar, V., Morse, D., and Fratzl, P. (2005)
Skeleton of Euplectella sp.: structural hierarchy from the nanoscale to the macroscale,
Science , 309, July 8: 275-8.
American Forest and Paper Association Agenda 2020 Technology Alliance (2006)
http://www.agenda2020.org, Forest Products Industry Technology Roadmap , July.
American Society for Testing and Materials (2006) Standard Terminology Relating to
Nanotechnology , E 2456-06.
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