 Nanosciences aim to produce nanosize materials and equipment endowed with exceptional properties and functions. This new science of the “infinitely small” was born in the 1980s, but only today has it gained its full momentum.
 Organizing matter on the nanometric scale
The goal of nanoscience is to develop methods of structuring matter so as to give it new properties, rendering it lighter, stronger, more conductive – exciting enough to stir the creativity of researchers and the imagination of manufacturers seeking their next innovation.
Nanomaterials (minerals, ceramics, carbon, polymers, etc.) are composed of nano-objects sequenced in a regular and perfectly controlled manner, thanks to specialized production methods. Among the many nanomaterials already on the market or in development, carbon nanotubes possess a crystalline structure, resembling a sheet of paper rolled into a hollow tube. The carbon atoms are regularly arranged into pentagons, hexagons, and/or heptagons.
New properties, innovative products  Nanomaterials demonstrate unparalleled physical and chemical characteristics. Carbon nanotubes, for example, manifest mechanical, electrical, and piezoelectrical properties with many interesting applications.
Nanomaterials can be used as they are or dispersed in a matrix of more traditional materials. In both cases, their exceptional properties help design resolutely innovative products. One such example is a “self-healing” elastomer, an ultra-solid fiber that bends without breaking. Another is a better Plexiglas® that is lighter than glass, shock resistant, and transparent.
The synthesis of nanomaterials requires very specific conditions (temperature, pressure, environment, etc.). Researchers are currently working to optimize the modes of production and to develop the potential applications of nanomaterials. Without a doubt, the most significant advances are yet to come.
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