Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Ford, SAE World Congress
Ford investigating nanotechnology to improve performance, fuel mileage
Ford announced during the 2008 SAE World Congress in Detroit that it's investing a bunch of money in researching nanotechnology for developing paints, plastics, light metals and catalysts that will allow reduced vehicle weight and improved fuel economy. The idea is to use nanoparticles dispersed in existing materials to improve properties of those materials.
Examples of this technology are potential new alloys that could make engines lighter, or a thermally sprayed nano-coating that could replace the heavier cast iron liners that provide the necessary wear resistance of cylinder bores in aluminum block engines. Then there's improved surface coating for the vehicle's sheetmetal and nanotechnology in lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells.
[Source: Ford]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan 11:38AM (4/16/2008)
Yaaay! And permanent teflon microdispersions in the auto paint to make washing your car a thing of the past!!!
Let me close with more colorful, meaningless dribble: Wham!! POW! Kazoo! Yoinks! Bang!!! Cha-cha-cha!!!
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why not the LS2LS7? 3:08PM (4/16/2008)
There are already many many alternatives to iron cylinder liners, there have been for 20 years. In fact, I'd say less than half of aluminum blocks have iron liners anymore.
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Kevin Nugent 7:27PM (4/16/2008)
Yeah nice try ford. Come up with something ground breaking and then maybe i will blink . But until then i will only stare
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mike 8:06AM (4/17/2008)
No matter How Much Money you dump into the Gas Engine it will NEVER be as Powerful or as Efficient as an Electric. The time for Electric Cars is NOW.
It's FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT to continue to invest in GAS.
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