This book presents a readily understood overview of coatings systems based on the application of chemical nanotechnology, which allows the development of coatings or three dimensional objects from minute nanocomponents of just millionths of a millimeter in size. Through the manipulation of composition, shape, size, and character of the bulk and of the surface, nanotechnology can provide unprecedented control of material properties and vast opportunities in end-use applications. The importance of silane technology to this process is reflected in the contents — over three quarters of the book is devoted to this topic.

From the Foreword: “...The technical background for the most common applications of chemical nanotechnology is silane chemistry. With the help of silanes, the application possibilities can be divided into six steps. From the production of silica sols, to complex nano-particulate filled materials in the form of multi-functional coatings — the interrelation is obvious in many areas. The outline of this book is also arranged with regard to these reaction sequences. Starting with simple sol—gel reactions and the production of silica particles, we borrow aspects of glass chemistry, silicone chemistry and solid chemistry, to bring the reader, step by step, to the complex reactions of inorganic/organic nanocomposites...”

Target Audience: Engineers, researchers, and scientists within the automotive, coatings, textiles, plastics, and metals industries; students of nanotechnology and its applications.

Table of Contents:

Introduction to Chemical Nanotechnology

Definition of Nanotechnology

Silane Technology as the Key to Chemical Nanotechnology

Outlook

Index