Abstract:
The incorporation of micro- and nano-phase in polymers to improve material performance has been a concept since the early '90s. When carbon nanotubes were reported, an interest to revisit the field was triggered. However, the tipping point in this technology for composite structures was the idea to develop hybrid nano-modified matrices. This approach promises FRP composite materials with enhanced performance and integrated functionalities - multifunctionality approach. Currently, more than 25 years later and numerous studies and promising scientific results that climaxed the expectations; it is evident to the engineering community that the technology of nano-modification to deliver structural composites has reached a crucial milestone towards its short-term utilization. This milestone is linked to the need to transform from lab scale -"preparation environment"- to industrial scale -"production environment". Successfully bridging this gap secures a stable transition from the phase of "disillusionment" to the phase of "enlightenment" where solid benefits and practical applications of the technology are understood.
Several approaches for the utilization of nanotechnology products in structural composite structures have been proposed and are reviewed in short along with respective achieved results. A variety of nano-fillers (e.g. CNF, CNT, graphene, nano-SiC) has been proposed and employed, individually or in combination in hybrid forms, to approach the desired performance. Finally, a major part of the presentation deals with the up-scaling routes of these technologies to reach final products and industrial scales and processes while meeting end-user performance. The past decade, extensive efforts have been invested in understanding the nano-scale and revealing the capabilities offered by nanotechnology products to structural materials. Nevertheless, a major issue faced lately more seriously due to the interest of industry is on how to incorporate these nano-species into the final composite structure through existing manufacturing processes and infrastructure. This presentation aims to serve as a review and roadmap for near term use of nanotechnology in structural composites, and present the activities of Adamant Composites Ltd.
Adamant Composites is a high-tech industrial SME working on Advanced Materials & Structures at different points of the supply chain. The company, located in Patras, Greece, was founded in 2012 by a team of highly experienced Mechanical and Aeronautics Engineers with the vision to establish a cutting-edge One-Stop-Shop Composites Manufacturing Hub providing solutions on Innovative Materials, Composites & Advanced Manufacturing, and Space systems (focused on Deployable structures).
Adamant Composites bridges the gap between Research and Market by providing a platform for maturing promising technologies related to Polymers, Composites and Advanced Structures.
The company is already commercializing a number of technologies with the spearhead being the FXply™ technology through a dedicated Pilot Line. The introduction of nanotechnology in the field of composites has opened new horizons towards this direction offering unique capabilities for the on demand tuning of the material properties. Adamant Composites holds vast know-how on polymer composites and nanotechnology-based methodologies for the modification of conventional composite materials leading to significant increase in their performance characteristics and adding multi-functional capabilities (e.g. mechanical, electrical, thermal etc.). The know-how extends towards the seamless integration of nanotechnology modified composite materials in already established production units of industrial clients with no (or minimal) alternation of the production processes used.