Nanotechnology finds application in Iran’s car industry

Researchers at Iran Khodro Company (IKCO) in collaboration with their colleagues at SAPCO, two of the largest car producers in Iran, pursue replacing ordinary auto parts with nanotechnology-based ones in order to improve the qualities and reduce costs.

Their nominated parts for modification include windscreen, body paint, interior composite parts, various plastic parts, seat covers, dashboard, and gas tank.

It is proved that such modifications would provide easier and better hygiene level for the internal part of the car.

IKCO presented its first nano-modified prototype car named Samand Soren at ‘Iran Nano 2009’ exhibition currently being held in Tehran, the Iranian Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) reported.

According to IKCO’s experts, the car takes advantage of anti-scratch paint, nanocomposite structures in its interior parts and inter-engine units, nano-diamond contained lubricating oil, hydrophobic glasses, antibacterial seats, anti-stain dashboard and nanocatalytic exhaust convertor.

“When integrated in paints, nano-coatings improve lifetime and resistance to erosion/scratch and UV greatly. This will help producers lengthen guarantee periods for automobile paints,” Ali Farshidi, head of Engineering and Materials Research Center at SAPCO explained to INIC.

“We also continue our researches to benefit from nanotechnology as much as possible. For example, at the moment, we are seeking ways to apply nanotechnology-based air filters which don’t need to be replaced or gas tanks with lower gasoline vapor loss thanks to nanotechnology,” he added.

Also, Hadi Zebardast, head of Strategic Technology Planning Section at IKCO reiterated that nano-modified parts make a car’s interior cleaner and more hygienic.

“We want to reduce fuel consumption and produce more environmentally-friendly cars with the help of nanotechnology,” he stressed.