- Initiatives >
- Nanotechnology >
Nanotechnology
Overview
Nanotechnology and standardization in nanotechnology are issues of significant interest and strategic importance to the United States, though nanotechnology is still considered an emerging technology.
Applications based on nanotechnology have the potential to offer significant benefit, ranging from faster semi-conductor chips to brighter and more durable paints and pigments, from stain resistant apparel to antimicrobial coating, and from stronger (yet lighter weight) sports equipment to advanced batteries with significantly greater energy storage capacity. Nanotechnology has been termed by some observers as the "second industrial revolution."
Standardization issues in nanotechnology are of particular interest given the role that standards play in advancing technology and technology dissemination through commonly agreed upon methods of testing, analyses, data interpretation and application.
For numerous aspects of nanotechnology, standardization provides the international community a means to formally vet and codify measurement methods developed in individual laboratories, ensuring that the resultant standards reflect the state-of-art in measurement and characterization. [read background and NIST role]
Standardization development activities
+ International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Technical Committee (TC) 229
Scope: Standardization in the field of nanotechnologies that includes either or both of the following: (1) Understanding and control of matter and processes at the nanoscale, typically, but not exclusively, below 100 nonametres in one or more dimensions where the onset of size-dependent phenomena usually enables novel application; (2) Utilizing the properties of nanoscale materials that differ from the properties of individual atoms, molecules, and bulk matter, to create improved materials, devices, and systems that exploit these new properties.
+ International Electrotechnical Commission: Technical Committee (TC) 113
Scope: Standardization of the technologies relevant to electrical and electronic products and systems in the field of nanotechnology in close cooperation with other committees of IEC and ISO TC 229.
+ ASTM International: Committee E56
Scope: (1) The development of standards and guidance for nanotechnology & nanomaterials; and (2) the coordination existing ASTM standardization related to nanotechnology needs. This coordination shall include the apportioning of specific requests for nanotechnolgoy standards through ASTM's existing committee base, as well as the maintenance of appropriate global liaison relationships with activities (internal and external) related to this subject area.
+ Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development: Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials
Event Feed
Nanotechnology Standards Panel Meeting
Sep 09, 2009 ( Chicago,
IL
)
Event Organizer: American National Standards Institute
International Workshop on Challenges to Increased Use of Nanotechnology Standards
Dec 13-14, 2011 ( Washington,
DC
)
Event Organizer: NIST and ANSI
updates delivered to your desktop
We have provided a link to this site because it has information that may be of interest to our users. NIST does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on this site. Further, NIST does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on this site.