Research Work at
International Center for Nano Technology
and Applied Adhesion

Proposal full title: Development of Infrastructure for High Performance Polymeric Nanocomposites and Nanoadhesives for Potential Applications to Aviation, Space, Defence, Automotive and Electronics

Proposal Detail:

1: Scientific and/or technical quality, relevant to the topics addressed by the call
1.1 Concept and objectives
 

List of participants:

Note: IDMEC is founded by Instituto Superior Técnico - Technical University of Lisbon (IST) and Faculdade de Engenharia - University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal.

This is a combination of five projects and subsequently results a major project:

1.1.1 (Project 1 and 2)

In search of long time and efficient service performance in the context of future generation spacecrafts at Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), Aviation, Defence and Electronics, work of particular relevance to this project has been on the development high performance polymeric nanocomposites. The work has been designed not only to improving mechanical of next generation spacecrafts, aviation and defence. Therefore, challenges will be taken for the retention of the properties of the composites when subjected to severe space climates at LEO as well as GEO, especially under high energy electro magnetic radiation i.e., gamma radiation, neutron radiation etc., atomic oxygen and ultra violet (UV) radiation atmosphere, as well as missile and military aircraft service conditions such as exposing to low temperatures and high temperatures for several hundred hours.

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 1.1.2 (Project 3)
 
 Work of particular relevance to this proposal has been on the enhancement of adhesion and of adhesive bond durability of high temperature resistant polymer such as Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) through atmospheric pressure plasma and low pressure plasma, which increases wetting characteristics of the polymer surface, followed by preparation of high performance nano adhesive by dispersing silicate nano powder and carbon nano fibre into ultra high temperature resistant epoxy adhesive with further modification of PEEK Nano Adhesive Bonding under Electron Beam Radiation. The work has been designed not only to improve adhesion characteristics of PEEK but also keeping in view of its application to automotive and aerospace. Therefore, challenges will be taken for retention of adhesion and durability of PEEK when subject to automotive and aerospace climate, especially under high temperature, cryogenic atmosphere and humid as well as chemical and other relevant automotive and aerospace atmospheres.
 
 1.1.3 (Project 4)
 
 Work of particular relevance to this proposal has been on the enhancement of adhesion and of adhesive bond durability of another high temperature resistant polymer such as Polyimide (as currently space industries are substantially using this polymer), which can follow surface treatments through low-pressure plasma and atmospheric pressure plasma, which increases wetting characteristics of the substrate surface, followed by preparation of high performance nano adhesive by dispersing Carbon Nano Fiber (CNF) in ultra high temperature resistant adhesive such as Polyimide adhesive with further modification of Polyimide Nano Adhesive Bonding under Electron Beam Irradiation. The work has been designed not only to improve adhesion characteristics of the polymer but also keeping in view of its application to Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). Therefore, challenges will be taken for retention of adhesion and durability of high performance nano adhesive bonding of this space durable polymer when subject to space climate, especially under high temperature, cryogenic atmosphere, high energy radiation (gamma rays, proton and neutron radiation) atmosphere and humid as well as chemical and other relevant cosmic atmospheres
 
 1.1.5 (Project 5)
 
 Work of particular relevance to this proposal has been designed to increase long term durability of titanium surface by altering its surface properties and durability of high performance adhesive such as ceramic adhesive and ultra high temperature resistant epoxy nano adhesive under aerospace environments. Therefore, surface treatment of titanium will become an important issue and will be carried out by plasma ion implantation with high power density vacuum plasma and atmospheric pressure plasma, in order to create stable and durable surface protective coating as well as to increase adhesion characteristics of titanium surface. Plasma modified titanium sheets will be fabricated by high performance adhesive such as ceramic adhesive and nano epoxy adhesive i.e., by dispersing ceramic nano powder in ultra high temperature resistant epoxy adhesive. However, the work has been designed not only to improve adhesion characteristics of titanium but also keeping in view of its application to aviation, where long term durability of titanium surface is a major issue. Therefore, challenges will be taken to retention of adhesion and durability of ceramic adhesive and ultra high temperature resistant nano epoxy adhesive bonded joint of Titanium when subject to severe aerospace climatic condition, especially high temperature, cryogenic atmosphere, and humid as well as chemical and corrosive atmospheres.