Strategies for developing bulk materials nanotechnology (BMN) into industrial products

Microstructural formation occurring on the nanoscale level is often challenging and complex to understand but can lead to compelling properties and superior material performance. Commercial development of bulk materials nanotechnology (BMN) is enabled through new discoveries overcoming age old problems specifically: (1) opening up of process window to enable nanoscale structure formation in industrial products and (2) utilisation of new nanoscale ductility mechanisms to achieve combinations of high strength with ductility. Strategies for using BMN as either a surface technology or as a standalone monolithic technology are dependent on the operable ductility/toughness mechanisms which are overriding factors for successful commercialisation. For each route, the pathway for microstructural formation, the targeted nanoscale structures and the process window goals are described along with mainstream examples of each technology for a multitude of real world industrial applications.