title: Nanotechnology in automotive industry: research strategy and trends for the future-small objects, big impacts.
abstract: The goal of this paper is to emphasize and present briefly the nanotechnology science and its potential impact on the automotive industry in order to improve the production of recent models with an optimization of the safety performance and a reduction in the environmental impacts. Nanomaterials can be applied in car bodies as light weight constructions without compromising the stiffness and crashwortiness, which means less material and less fuel consumption. This paper outlines the progress of nanotechnology applications into the safety features of more recent vehicle models and fuel efficiency, but also emphasis the importance of sustainable development on the application of these technologies and life cycle analysis of the considered materials, in order to meet the society trends and customers demands to improve ecology, safety and comfort.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Guilhermina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torrão
authors.forename: Nazanin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grácio