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ISSUE 2 | PAGE 1 News Bulletin News Bulletin

SRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF NANOTECHNOLOGYSRI LANKA INSTITUTE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

SLINTECUP COMING EVENTS

SLINTEC starts Nano Projects

Minister Tissa Vitharana’s visit

SLINTEC web page launched

Professor Sugiyama’s visit

Establishment of NEMS/MEMS Design Centre

Market Driven Innovation at SLINTEC

SLINTEC featured in the World Bank Report

Giving more value to Sri LankanNatural Resources through SLINTEC - (TiO2)

Research & Analytical Services from SLINTEC

Nanontechnology in a Nutshella. What is Nanotechnology: Nanotechnology, or more accurately nanotechnologies, describes the many ways that scientists can now work with the actual molecules and atoms that make up our world. We measure things in meters and centimeters, but nano scientists work in nanometers, that’s a billionth of a meter. For the mathematical pursuits among you, one nanometer is 10 , of a meter, i.e.: 1/1,000,000,000. On the other hand, the smallest living thing with a cell is a bacteria about 200 nm long... To understand the scale better think about the difference between a nanometer and a meter. It is the same size difference as a golf ball and the earth. Or another way of putting it: a nanometer is the amount that a hair on a man's face grows in the time it takes him to lift his hand to shave.

Ant = 5,000,000nm Pin Head=1,500,000nm MEMS=10,000 Blood Cell=7,500nm Human Hair Dia. = DNA=2.5 nm to 100,000 nm 80,000 nm

b. Beginning of Nanotechnology The first use of the ideas in 'nano-technology' (but before the name was invented) was in "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom," a talk given by the scientist Richard Feynman at an American Physical Society meeting at Caltech on December 29, 1959. Feynman presented the idea of manipulating and controlling things on an extremely small scale by building and shaping matter one atom at a time. He described how the 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica could be written down on the head of a pin.

c. Size Matters For Scientists and technologists, this has special interest, because at this nanoscale materials don’t always behave as they do when they are larger. In other words, materials reveal unique properties when compared not only with ordinary bulk sized materials, but also their molecules. In essence, they take advantages of properties that neither individual molecules nor molecule structures exhibit. What scientists do with nanotechnologies is take control of these reactions to make new products.

Nano in Commerce:Though it is too early to provide a conclusive list of Nano products, enlisted are some of the main areas where develop-ments in nanotechnologies are utilized:

Computing & Electronic Goods

Textiles & Clothing

Transport

Sports & Leisure

Medical

Paints & Coatings

Environment

Packaging

The most exciting fact is that the list is growing…

Nano Safety:Despite an array of benefits that nanotechnology can provide to the humankind, as it is the case with any other technologies, it is not hazardous-free. Because most of the nano materials behave differently than they do in their larger forms, we should also be vigilant about their safety when they are used in these new ways.

Read more on http://www.crnano.org/

SLINTEC 8th KNOWLEDGE

SEMINARby

Prof. A.P. de SilvaQueen’s University, UK

DECEMBER 2009Please send your reservation to

[email protected]

Read more ...

-9

Food & Drink

Energy

Cosmetics & Sunscreen

Constructions

Defense

Tools

Surveillance

Nanoin

Commerce

Contents

Natural Resources with Nano Application

Sustainable nanotechnologySustainable nanotechnology



SLINTEC featured in the World Bank ReportSri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) was featured in a new report by the World Bank titled, ”Leveraging High Technology to Drive Innovation & Competitiveness in Key Export Industries & Building the Sri Lankan Knowledge Economy”.

Among other things, it was mentioned in the report that the world bank inspection team, headed by the renowned scientist Dr. R.A Mashelkar, was impressed with the personnel at SLINTEC in terms of their "high level competency as well as the commitment to make the initiative successful".

The report also praises the SLINTEC model of the private-public partnership, entered into by the National Science Foundation and five of the leading corporate entities in Sri Lanka, Brandix, Dialog, Hayles, Loadstar and MAS.

The full report can be downloaded www.susnanotec.lk The reference to SLINTEC is from pages 103-109.

Giving More Value to Sri Lankan Natural Resources through SLINTEC: A Case for Titanium Dioxide (TiO )

By Dr. Jeewantha Premaratne

for economic exploitation. Major concentrated deposits are located along 72 km the north east coast stretch of Sri Lanka. It has been estimated that north east coast contains 8-9 million tons of ilmenite, 1.0 million of rutile. The beach sand deposits in the north east coast at Pulmoddai are very high grade, with a heavy mineral content of 80% and a composition of 70-72% ilmenite, (FeTiO ), 8% rutile (TiO ) and 8-10% zircon (ZrSiO ). The present plant has a capacity of 150,000 tons of ilmenite (FeTiO ), 10,000 tons of rutile (TiO ) and 6,000 tons of zircon (ZrSiO ). The current annual production of ilmenite is about 80,000 tons.

Sri Lanka currently does not produce any type of value added (TiO ) pigments. The country imports its entire require-ment of titanium dioxide pigment (TiO ). More than 90% of the titanium ore is processed into titanium dioxide pigment, known as titanium white, a brilliant white, non-toxic pigment. Titanium dioxide pigment (TiO ) is used as whitening, opacifying, self cleaning or UV-radiation protecting agent in paint, printing, rubber, paper, textile, electronic, detergent, cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. Approximately 60% of titanium dioxide pigment produced globally goes into paint and coating industry, 20% into plastics, 13% into paper products and the remaining 7% into other industrial applications. For its use as a white pigment, titanium dioxide (TiO ) competes with ground calcium carbonate, precipitated calcium carbonate, kaolin, and talc. Global demand for feedstock amounts to over 5 million tons annually. According to industry estimates, total annual sales for the titanium dioxide pigment industry and titanium metal markets are over US$ 12.0 billion

The production of titanium dioxide (TiO ) pigment is extremely relevant to Sri Lankan condition and it is a keenly felt requirement to set up a titanium dioxide pigment and nano-titanium dioxide manufacturing plants of global standard to develop the country’s economy using its natural earth resources. SLINTEC is getting ready to utilize the application of microwave technology coupled with existing technology for the metallurgical processing of ilmenite ore to produce high quality, marketable titanium dioxide and nano titanium dioxide pigments. SLINTEC will always innovate to employ appropriate chemical manufacturing processes to minimize the damage to the eco-system. Green chemistry is a set of principles and practices that aim to reduce the generation of hazardous materials in chemical products and processes. Therefore, microwave heating is a potential beneficial technology for the titanium metallurgical industry especially for the manufacturing of high quality titanium dioxide pigments and nano-TiO effectively, efficiently and economically.

It is important that Sri Lankan policy makers realize the potential of our resources and consider creative pathways for the development of the country. SLINTEC is keen to support in Research & Development and Innovation with its access to high technology .

Sri Lanka has vast deposits of ilmenite (FeTiO ) which is the major raw material for titanium dioxide (TiO ) pigment production. Although commercially valuable miner-als such as ilmenite, rutile (TiO ) and zircon (ZrSiO ) occur in the beach sand of Sri Lanka, it is only at certain locations that the deposits are sufficiently concentrated

www.susnanotec.lkThe Official launch of our website was in September 2009. The site will provide a plethora of information about SLINTEC, SLINTEC Advantage, Nano Business, Sri Lankan Nanotech-nology Initiatives etc. We are in the process of making our website a useful resource to anyone who is interested in Nanotechnology. We

share information with the SLINTEC mission of Nanotechnology for Made in Sri Lanka!

The physics lecture entitled “There’s plenty of Room at the Bottom” describing the nanoscale was given by

(a). Richard Smalley

(b). Richard Burton

©. Richard Feynman

(d). Richard Petty

The main difference between using nanotools and regular lab equipment is

(a). size and scale

(b). smell and sound

©. Length and breath

(d). freezing and thawing

A nanometer is equal to a

(a). zillionth of a meter

(b). millionth of a meter

©. Billionth of a meter

(d). trillionth of a meter

16th June 2009

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Nano Quiz

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SLINTEC commences Science Projects The chairperson of NSF, Prof. Sirimali Fernando visited SLINTEC on 12th August 2009 and our Science Team presented their inaugrural SLINTEC initiated projects of its’ industry partners at this occasion. Distribution of Lab coats to Team SLINTEC was also done by Prof. Sirimali and Deshamanya Mahesh Amalean, the Chairman of SLINTEC /MAS during this event.

Hon Minister of Science & Technology – Prof. Tissa Vitharana visited SLINTECHon. Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana visited SLINTEC on 14th Sept. 2009 along with some officials from the Ministry of Science & Technology, National Science Foundation, Treasury etc. Representatives from the World Bank were also presented at this occasion.








Market Driven Innovation at SLINTEC

Prof. Susumu Sugiyama’s Visit & Establishment of NEMS/MEMS Design Centre

SLINTEC launched a new project “ IPP-4 : 2010 “ to take SLINTEC to Asia’s Leader in Sustainable nanotechnology. The main target of the project is to apply 4 International Provisional Patents by year 2010 , with the aim of providing economic sustainability to our investor companies, in other words, to give them a globally competitive

now focused to achieve this goal.

SLINTECKNOWLEDGE

SEMINARS

Prof. Susumu Sugiyama - Director, Research Institute for Nanomachine System Technology; Professor, Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan visited SLINTEC on 8th September 2009. He works for SLINTEC as a special consultant to develop Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Design Centre. At his visit, NEMS/MEMS Design Centre had been established success-fully. Additionaly, he delivered an enlightening presentation to the Minister Prof. Tissa Vitharana, and the representatives from the Ministry & the World Bank officials. Prof. Sugiyama has also conducted a special tailor-made Presentation to the Team SLINTEC to develop their knowledge about MEMS & NEMS.

In line with Prof. Sugiyama’s visit, SLINTEC Organised its’ 7th Knowledge Seminar at ITI Audito-rium on 18th September 2009 about Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) - “Progress of Integration in MEMS and New Industry Creation” .

SLINTEC Knowledge SeminarsSLINTEC is bounded to educate and share the know-how of nano experts worldwide. To fulfill this worthy cause, SLNITEC has conducted three Knowledge Seminars during August to September 2009 i.e. “Wealth Creation for a Modern Nation via Nanotechnology” by Prof. Ravi. P. Silva, BA MA PhD (Cantab) CEng CPhys FIEE FInstP FRSA - Head of Nano-Electronics Centre, Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences, University of Surrey.

“Smart Textiles – Adding Value to Sri Lankan Textiles, the Electronic Textiles Option” by Dr. Thilak Dias Head of the William Lee Innovation Centre, School of Materials, University of Manchester.

Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) - “Progress of Integration in MEMS and New Industry Creation” by Prof. Susumu Sugiyama - Director, Research Institute for Nanomachine System Technology; Professor, Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University Shiga, Japan.

6th SLINTEC Knowledge Semi-nar on Wealth Creation for a Modern Nation via Nanotecnol-ogy by Prof. Ravi. P. Silva. This was held at ITI Auditorium and more than 130 Nano related scientists were participated.

5th SLINTEC Knowledge Seminar on Smart Textile by Dr. Thilak Dias. This was held at SLINTEC Knowledge Center On 12th August, 2009.

strategic differentiate as per our sustainable strategy. Team SLINTEC is

Next time more about NEMS & MEMS....






SLINTECUP COMING EVENTS

SLINTEC’s Sustainable Nanotechnology brings Collab-orative Research Initiatives with Ritsumeikan University, Japan.SLINTEC’s unwavering, explicit commitment to Sustainable Nanotechnology, which is built on three sustain-ability dimensions, namely, Social, Environment and Economic, have started to paid off as research institutions in the world have begun to bridge their R & D initiatives with SLINTEC.

On 28th October 2009, the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) signed an agreement for collabora-tive research with the Research Organization of the Science and Engineering of the Ritsumeikan University, Japan.

Ritsumeikan University has been one of the oldest and most prestigious private universities in Kyoto, Japan with a lot of collaborations with world leading companies in the automobile, robotics, electronics and health care industries.

Under the signed agreement, joint research activities in the Micro and Nano System Technology will be carried out. Further, the agreement will enable technology transfers between the two institutions by means of exchanging researchers and postgraduate students.

Prof. Susumu Sugiyama, the Director of Research Institute for Nanomachine System Technology of the Ritsumeikan Global Innovation Organization exchanged the agreement on behalf of Prof. Masaaki Makikawa, Executive Director of the Research Organization of the Science and Engineering of the Ritsumeikan University with Mr. Ravi Fernando, Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology.

Prof. Susumu Sugiyama is currently in Sri Lanka on a mission to establish a Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) / Nano Electro Mechanical Systems (NEMS) Design Centre in SLINTEC, under the Expert Dispatch program of Japanese International Corporation Agency (JAICA).

SLINTEC 8th KNOWLEDGE

SEMINARby

Prof. A.P. de SilvaQueen’s University, UK

DECEMBER 2009Please send your reservation to

[email protected]

Read more ...

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On 28th October 2009 Loadstar, who is one of our key partners, donated two high-tech machines, namely a Two Roll Mill & a Heat Press, which are made by Loadstar team, to SLINTEC to carry out their R&D initiatives.

Natural Resources with Nano Application
