Nanophase Technologies Corporation Processing Nanoscale Materials for Large-Scale Production

The scientific community is in strong agreement that nanoscale materials, which are less than 100-billionths of a meter in size, exhibit superior chemical, mechanical, electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. When this project was funded in 1992, it was believed that this technology could increase U.S. market share in the diesel engine and ball-bearing industries. At that time, however, these nanocrystalline materials could only be produced in small quantities. Nanophase Technologies Corporation (NTC), with funding from the Advanced Technology Program (ATP), increased its capability to produce nanoscale materials by 25,000-fold and reduced its costs by 20,000-fold. These materials are now used in products as diverse as cosmetics, catalysts, and ceramics.