NANOTOUGH

Nanostructured Toughened Hybrid Nanocomposites for High Performance Applications

Nanotough is a European framework project that focuses on developing tough plastic materials using nanotechnology. A total of 11 partners from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Romania and Denmark are participating in the project.

The objective is to use nanoparticles like nanoclay to turn upside down the construction of a number of well-known products, where today metals or plastics are used in for example cars or aircraft. The research will look at how the products can be made both lighter and stronger using nano-particles.

Nanocomposites are emerging new materials that promise improved properties, but in practice, it has been difficult to translate existing knowledge on nanotechnology into tangible products. Nanotough's objective is, in addition to basic research, to remove the technical barriers so that nano-composite-materials can be used commercially.

Professor Jesper de Claville Christiansen at the Department for Production, Aalborg University, has been appointed to head the Nanotough research project.

Homepage: http://nanotough.aau.dk/

Press links

http://www.investindk.com/visNyhed.asp?artikelID=20867

http://www.fi.dk/nyheder/pressemeddelelser/2009/det-betaler-sig-at-investere-i-eu-projekter

http://videnskab.dk/content/dk/teknologi/nanomaterialer_skal_slanke_fly_og_biler

http://www.fi.dk/publikationer/2009/eu-information-nr.-1-2013-januar-2009/EU-INFORMATION-01-2009.pdf

http://vtu.dk/nyheder/nyheder-udefra/2009/forskere-beloennes-for-eu-koordination/

http://presse.aau.dk/nyheder/3945970

About Nanotough

Nanocomposites are emerging new materials that promise improved properties. Their application, however, is presently limited by the cost of manufacture and product reproducibility.

Project Goals

To remove technical barriers to producing high performance polymer nanocomposites on the industrial scaleTo gain fundamental insight through a series of carefully designed studies, using the most advanced experimental techniquesTheoretical modelling, carried out by very experiences and skilled partners working together in a targeted and interdisciplinary fashion.

Basic objectives

The basic objective is to obtain a deeper understanding of the interfacial structure of nanocomposites within a polyolefin matrix. This knowledge will enable realization of the great performance potential of these materialise through development of novel multiphase and hybrid nanocomposites. This knowledge will facilitate commercialization of polymer nanocomposite materials with superior properties that will lead to development of new products.

To meet this objective, we aim to improve the stiffness of polyolefin nanocomposites while not only maintaining but also improving the toughness of the matrix considerable. The technical objective is to optimize and, through novel interface design, to develop new cost effective hybrid (nanofiller-fiber) nanocomposites as an alternative to heavily filled polymers and expensive engineering polymers and fulfil industry requirements for high performance materials in high tech applications.

NANOTOUGH consists of 11 partners:

Aalborg University - AAU (Coordinator)
Department of Production
Denmark

Primarily active in: WP4, WP7

Chemical Research Institute - ICECHIM
Elastomers Research Group and Plastics Characterization and Processing Research Group.
Chemical R&D institute, Molecular characterization, polyphenyleneoxides
Romania

Primarily active in: WP1, WP2

Unversity of Hamburg - UHAM
Polymer Physics Group (PPG)
Expertise in the field of nanostructure analysis of soft matter by means of X-ray scattering
Germany

Primarily active in: WP2

Technical University og Denmark - DTU
The Danish Polymer Centre (DPC) and Center for Electron Nanoscopy
Strong background in polymer synthesis and modification as well as polymer characterization.
Denmark

Primarily active in: WP2

University of Genova - UNIGE
Componoents, Material, Technology and ElectroSTatics (CMTEST) Lab
Department of Electrical Engineering
Italy

Electrical Engineering Department
University and attached research center with strong background in electric tests suitable for mechani-cal characterisation

Primarily active in: WP2, WP5

ARMINES-CEMEF
ARMINES-CEMEF is a strong and reputed research center located in Sophia-Antipolis (France) with 150 people (including 65 PhD students, 20 post-master degree students and post-doctoral positions). Its research activities are devoted to the physics, physical chemistry and mechanics of materials processing, in particular metals and polymers.
Will be working on understanding the relationships between process conditions and organoclay nanostructure and on the optimization of extrusion process for controlling final properties.

Primarily active in WP3 and WP5

Centro Ricerche Fiat - CRF
Will contribute with Nanocomposites obtained by the growth of nanoparticles in-situ the polymer matrix and Manufacturing and tests of stabilized materials for the automotive.
Italy

Primarily active in: WP1, WP5

The Danish Technological Institute - DTI
Will be working with In-situ on-line monitoring of state of dispersion by dielectric measurements and monitoring deformation behavior and long term properties together with beeing WP-leader on dissemination and exploitation.
Danmark

Primarily active in: WP4, WP6

Laviosa Chimica Mineraria - LCM
Will be working on chemical surface modification and supply of nanoparticles together with characterisation of nanoparticles.
Italy

Primarily active in: WP1

FPK S.A - FPK
Will be working with defining the requirements for the automotive industry and validate the new materials and industrial process.
Spain

Primarily active in: WP5

 

Aviospace - AVS
Testing of components for the aeronautics together with testing of prototype of structural components for aeronautic industries and Space Agency.
Italy.