Nanomaterials have begun to alter the practice of modern medicine, from diagnostics to treatment.
Kevlar fiber is chemically engineered for high performance in protective apparel, where high strength and light weight are beneficial. Courtesy DuPont.
By characterizing and then modifying molecular structures chemical engineers are able to
- Enhance desirable physical properties and performance attributes, and
- Suppress unwanted ones.
With each new development a greater understanding of the complex relationships between specific modifications and the changes they bring about is achieved. While enormous advances have been made in recent years, there are still many challenges remaining.
High-performance materials
Chemical engineers are developing advanced materials with superior properties that allow for successful performance under increasingly punishing operating conditions. Initially created to respond to the challenges of space travel, many impressive advances have been made using materials from each of the major material classes—plastics, ceramics, and metals. Learn more >>
Nanomaterials
Incredibly small, nanoscaled materials are produced with particle sizes measured in terms of nanometers. A nanometer is equal to one billionth of a meter. In recent years chemical engineers have been responsible for engineering systems able to produce and use ultra-small particles in a growing number of applications, from sunscreen to biomonitoring sensors that can explore inside a cell. Learn more >>
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