2011

The Art of Nanotechnology

Dr.S.Haripriya*

* Assistant Professor (Horticulture), ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tamil Nadu

Agricultural University, Vriddhachalam.

Damascus blades used in the famous Sword of Tipu Sultan have found existence of carbon nano particles. The Damascus steel or Wootz formed was steel by is actually large by and Indian steel. It is known is adding quantities of carbon which introduced wood incorporating

declined steadily and has not been in use since the 17th century. The Lycurgus Cup of fourth century is one of a class of Roman vessels known as cage cups. The glass of the cup is dichroic; in direct light it resembles jade with an opaque greenish-yellow tone, but when light

other organic matter during fabrication to iron and this steel industry was based in the southern peninsula. The name Wootz is the westernized version Ukku (Kannada)
and Ekku (Tamil), meaning crucible steel. Indian craftsmen

used unique smelting techniques to manufacture the Damascus blades which led to nanotisation giving them a unique long-lasting edge. They had the technology to make Wootz steel, a 'high-grade' steel that was highly prized and much sought after across several regions of the world over nearly two millennia. India, for ages, was a leading exporter of this steel which was used to make Persian daggers which were quite popular in Europe centuries ago. The technique to manufacture Wootz

shines through the glass it turns to a translucent ruby colour. of of The colloidal gold-silver

presence metals

gives the glass at least

some

of

its

unusual

optical

properties.

To

During centuries,

15th

-16th Deruta

conventionally composed Roman glass flux 330 parts per million of silver and 40 of gold were added. These particles were precipitated as colloids and form a silvergold alloy. The particles are only about 70 nanometers across, and embedded in the glass.

(Umbria, Italy) ceramists using nanoparticles of Copper and Silver metal between 5nm and 100 nm used to produce metallic and iridescent glazes on ceramic wall plates.

Luster decorations in glazes

In the 10th -11th centuries, Canterburry Cathedral Window was created with the stained glass usually coloured by adding nanoparticles of metallic oxides and metals to the glass while in a molten to state. produce Copper oxides were added green, cobalt for blue, silver for yellow, and gold for red glass. After coloring, 'small pieces of glass are arranged to form pictures, held together by strips of lead and supported by a rigid frame.

of and

historical of silver

pottery copper

consist

nanoparticles dispersed in a glassy medium. The colour mainly is determined by metal Silver

nanoparticles.

nanoparticles determine the gold colour, while the red colour is determined by nanoparticles of copper.

2000 years ago in the Ajanta paintings , nano technology was used in colour pigments for durability. Its also said that famous Delhi Iron pillar also employed carbon nano tube technology 3000 years ago. This pillar contains more than 98% of pure iron, even after 1600 years has not caught rust and is 100% corrosion resistant.