What are the benefits of using nanomaterials in textiles?
Nanomaterials in textiles can either improve existing properties or introduce completely new functionalities. Nano-enhanced textiles can be dirt- and water-repellent, breathable, conductive and antistatic. They offer protection against UV light, have an increased wear and wrinkle resistance or resistance to stains and can reduce infestation of bacteria or fungi. Besides these personal advantages, replacing traditional […]
Why is Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) used in paints?
In paints, titanium dioxide (chem. TiO2) is mainly used as a white pigment. Only micrometre sized titanium dioxide causes such white colouring. Nanoscale titanium dioxide functions as UV filter protecting the paints’ binder material. Equally, it degrades organic materials via generation of radicals (photocatalytic actovoty ), which is e.g. used for self-cleaning surfaces. For further information […]
Are the food additives like Silicon dioxide (E551) dangerous and are they even nano?
In the EU and Switzerland, E-numbers are solely used for labelling purposes on the list of ingredients and are not an indication of any potential hazard. Since EU law allows only harmless (safe) additives to be used in food, every food additive has to be tested and legally approved prior to any products’ application. The […]
Are nanomaterials being released from printers and photocopiers?
Yes, nanomaterials are being generated during the printing process and released into the air in the form of fine dust. As these respirable dust particles are capable of reaching the deeper regions of the lung, printer and copy machines are nowadays located outside the offices in separate rooms. Further information on this topic is provided […]
Are nano-based paints harmful to human health?
Various studies have shown that nano-enhanced paints are per se not more harmful to the human health than conventional paints. The same preventive precautions apply for these paints during use, processing and the subsequent disposal of the products. Especially in case of handling powdery substances, suitable protective clothing or respirators should be used. For further […]
What are the benefits of applying nanomaterials in environmental remediation?
Cleaning polluted water or soil from hazardous substances is time- and cost-intensive. Up-to-now the contaminated medium (water, soil) needs to be removed from the environment, cleaned, and then brought back into the original system. If a clean-up is not possible, the water or soil needs to be treated as waste, and is either burned or […]
Where can I find current production figures for nanomaterials?
Production figures are defined as the mass of an industrially manufactured material based on a certain region and time frame. Unfortunately, general production figures for nanomaterials are not publicly available, but can be obtained in parts in various publications from academia and industry. An overview of the production figures of 10 different nanoobjects can be […]
Nanosilver in exterior paints – are the nanoparticles released from the paint and if so, are they endangering humans and the environment?
In general, the nanosilver particles are firmly embedded in the paint. Pristine nanoparticles are rarely released. Sandblasting experiments with nano-enhanced paints demonstrated that it is possible to remove some nanomaterials from the applied paint albeit only to a very small extent. Once particles are being released, they immediately get in contact with other particles or […]
Do they apply nanoparticles to chocolate, to extend the shelf life?
After consulting an international manufacturer of chocolate bars, neither nanotechnologies at all nor nanoparticles were and are used in conjunction with their chocolate. A patent contains a method for coating in the “plasma”, but this meas that the chocolate melts. The patent was never applied! Other foods can not be exposed to a plasma too.
How can I recognize whether a product contains nanoparticles?
At the moment, only conditionally: on the one hand, products with the attribute “nano” are advertised in which there is no “nano” at all. On the other hand, there are only a few product groups in which nanomaterials have to be labelled: According to EU Regulation No. 1223/2009, the following applies to cosmetics: “All components […]