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BASF — The Chemical Company
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Nanotechnology in Nature
Have you ever stopped to wonder how Geckos can run across walls and ceilings, even over glass? Natural applied nanotechnology is the answer!
When the footpads of these incredible creatures are viewed at the nano-scale you find the finest hairs called setae allowing these creatures to mechanically grip onto imperfections in the surface too small for the human eye and also electronically bond to the surface, too! This two-fold adhesion mechanism is why we have adopted the Gecko for our new range of EMACO® NanoCrete repair mortars.
- Photo of Gecko foot courtesy of Ms Ira Richling, Kronshagen
- REM photo of Gecko foot kindly supplied by
- Mr G. Alberti, Greifswald
Improving Repair Mortars with Nanotechnology
At the level of sand and cement, special inorganic additives and best binder packing models are used within all of the products in the EMACO® NanoCrete range to ensure filler gradings are optimised. This improves technical performance e.g. density, tensile and compressive strength and freeze thaw resistance. Practical application properties such as thixotropy, non-slumping and finishing properties are also improved.
Nanotechnology does not mean nano-sized particles. Our better understanding of cement hydration has allowed us to improve the quality and density of the nanostructures in cement paste.
(see photo)
This reduces micro-defects in the systems and improves bond between the cement matrix and the aggregate, as well as the cement mortar with the substrate. Physical properties such as tensile strength are improved to reduce the possibility of cracking. This is the basis of applied nanotechnology in cement systems.
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