GE 2003 Annual Report Download - page 5

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nano fo≥
advanced mate≥ials
Nano-polymers may open up completely
new markets for plastics and silicones, such
as applications in electronic chips, where
heat management is a critical requirement.
New nano-polymers not only can withstand
the heat, but they also transfer it
out of the chip, enabling faster
computing speeds from smaller and
smaller packages.
nano fo≥
healthca≥e
GE scientists are working with molecular
chemists and biologists to create nano-size
“contrast agents” that will detect cancer,
heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease long
before any symptoms develop. The agents
must be small enough to seek out specific
diseased cells, but create a large enough
“signal” that can be picked up and
displayed by imaging scanners.
nanotechnology
For GE, nanotechnology is the ultimate material science, with the potential for creating materials such as nano-aluminum
(in background) with new properties— strength, conductivity, heat resistance—that could be used to build better diagnostic
scanners, higher-efficiency jet engines and energy systems. GE’s Global Research scientists filed 28 nanotechnology-related
patent applications in 2003, exploring ways to bring lab discoveries to commercial use.
nano fo≥
t≥anspo≥tation
GE Transportation is pursuing ways to
use high-temperature and high-strength
nano-metal alloys and nano-ceramics
to reduce weight in aircraft engines
and allow them to run at higher
temperatures, significantly boosting
fuel efficiency and decreasing
emissions.
nano fo≥
ene≥gy
Field testing is underway for erosion-
resistant nano-coatings on hydro-turbines
that last 20 times longer, which allows
for expansion into markets such as China
where rivers have extremely high silt content.
GE researchers are also pursuing ways
for nano-materials to further enable
alternative energy technologies such as
fuel cells and photovoltaics.