Mechanical properties of nanoparticles: basics and applications

TLDR

The special mechanical properties of nanoparticles enable novel applications in fields such as surface engineering, tribology, and nanomanufacturing. This review introduces the basic physics of interfacial forces affecting nanoparticles and the main measurement techniques. It surveys theories and key results on nanoparticle mechanical properties—including hardness, elastic modulus, adhesion, friction, and motion laws—and discusses their use as lubricant additives, in nanomanufacturing, and in reinforced composite coatings. The review concludes with a concise summary and future outlook.

Abstract

The special mechanical properties of nanoparticles allow for novel applications in many fields, e.g., surface engineering, tribology and nanomanufacturing/nanofabrication. In this review, the basic physics of the relevant interfacial forces to nanoparticles and the main measuring techniques are briefly introduced first. Then, the theories and important results of the mechanical properties between nanoparticles or the nanoparticles acting on a surface, e.g., hardness, elastic modulus, adhesion and friction, as well as movement laws are surveyed. Afterwards, several of the main applications of nanoparticles as a result of their special mechanical properties, including lubricant additives, nanoparticles in nanomanufacturing and nanoparticle reinforced composite coating, are introduced. A brief summary and the future outlook are also given in the final part.