Characterization of High-Performance Nanocomposites with Superior Structural and Thermal Properties
Abstract
Stronger, lighter-weight materials will be required for future Department of Defense (DoD) missions, particularly in weapons, unmanned systems, air warfare, and space. The proposed equipment acquisition is to 1) enable DoD~s development and design of next-generation nanomaterials and 2) create structures and devices made with these nanocomposites. A fundamental advantage of nanoscale materials is that they come closest to the theoretical limit of material strength, as dictated by chemical bonding. Our work is based on a recently developed nanomaterial, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT), which are about 60 times stronger than steel and conduct heat six times better than copper. At the same time, they are not conducting electricity, which makes them usable in applications where electrical insulation is needed. Another outstanding BNNT property is their stability up to 900 ~C (1,650 ~F), excellent for high-temperature applications. These properties are significantly beyond the properties of currently used DoD state-of-the-art structural and thermal engineering materials.Only recently have high-quality BNNTs become available at a large enough scale to produce parts and structures; our work is carried out in collaboration with the only major producer of this material in the U.S. Our goal is to embed BNNTs into existing engineering materials, such as plastics, composites, and metals. The combination of BNNTs with different host materials will produce novel materials with properties currently unattainable. Our goal is to produce materials for larger structures, which will significantly increase DoD~s technology readiness. BNNTcomposites will outperform current materials in strength-to-weight, thus allow fabrication of systems and devices with higher performance, durability and better energy efficiency. Furthermore, the outstanding thermal properties of BNNTs will allow the design of composite materials for heat management in electronics. The challenge in electronic components has been to significantly improve both performance and efficiency, lengthen lifetime, and reduce lifecycle and replacement costs. As circuits become smaller and denser, performance, efficiency, and lifetime of these electronics increasingly depends on rapid conduction of heat away from semiconductor junctions in the components. The outstanding heat conduction of BNNT will allows us to make novel composite materials, providing better ways for heat to escape and thus enable the realization of smaller devices with more power. Our materials will also enhanceperformance of critical equipment, reduce stress on system batteries, improve efficiency and lifetime, and reduce lifecycle maintenance and replacement costs.This proposal requests two instruments to test mechanical and thermal properties of BNNT composites at the scale of parts and components of full-scale structures. A small part of the requested funds will go toward the acquisition of an instrument capable of measuring heat transfer at the nanoscale. This allows us to characterize and visualize the heat transfer from one nanoparticle to another, which is critical to successful development of these novel materials. All of the three requested instruments will allows us to measure and systematically optimize the performance of BNNT nanocomposites. Ultimately, this technology will provide lightweight advanced composites that are ultra-strong, ultra-stiff, fracture resistant, and with tailored thermal and electrical properties for the Navy~s and DoD~s future needs. All of the requested instruments will also be used for teaching purposes, in classes and with research interns, which will greatly contribute to the training of the next generation of engineers and scientists.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812264
Entities
People
- Hannes C. Schniepp
Organizations
- College of William & Mary
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy