The methods of obtaining nanomaterials have been described, and the conditions for the formation of nanoparticles of a given size have been assessed. It has been shown that the surface energy of the nano-sized particles, due to a large portion of surface atoms, is significantly greater than the surface energy of the microparticles resulting in the non-equilibrium state of the former with the possibility to self-organize forming, in particular, strong and wear-resistant cladding films from the metallic nanoparticles on the friction surfaces. To explain the interaction of the nanoparticles, which are at the boundary of the quantum and classical states, with the environment, the main provisions of quantum mechanics have been used. The mutual interaction between the bare nanoparticles and between the nanoparticle and a surface, separated by the environment, has been considered. It has been shown that without the stabilization with surfactants, metallic nanoparticles will aggregate; in turn, the nature of the interaction between the nanoparticles with the solid substrates is determined by their dielectric constants. The paper presents an overview of the development of the nanotechnology industry, indicates the commercial demand for nanomaterials, marks the countries that are leaders in the production of nanomaterials, and lists the mainelements used for the production of metallicnanopowders.

The history of civilization is inseparably associated with the development of high-quality materials technology [1]. Modern materials science, aimed at the production of the materials with special properties, is connected with the fundamental and applied science of nanotechnology which studies the laws of physical and chemical nano-sized systems. Almost all nanosystems are obtained under the conditions far from equilibrium. It allows achieving spontaneous nucleation, and to avoid growth and aggregation of the formed nanoparticles. Studies have shown that nano-based materials have new and sometimes unusual properties [2]. It is known that for conventional materials the greater the strength of the material the less its ductility. In nanomaterials, a new paradox [3] of strength and ductility (a simultaneous increase in strength and ductility) has been discovered. In addition, nanomaterials have a higher fracture toughness and substantial wear resistance. The physical nature of the new phenomenon is connected with the change of micromechanisms of deformation, when, along with the motion of lattice dislocations at the boundary of formed nanograins, grain-boundary glide occurs [4]. Additives to operating media are widely used in mechanism’s systems. In particular, the reliability of friction units is determined in many respect with the presence of antiwear and boundary additives in lube oils. The transition from micron- to nano-sized additives is being widely implemented in technology at present. In this paper, we have analyzed the effectiveness of the utilization of nanodispersed substances and their compounds in order to increase the service life of the ship’s equipment.