Manufacturing of Multifunctional Nanocomposites

随着物联网和工业 4.0 的出现，开发微型、经济高效且可靠的设备对于当今社会变得越来越重要。通过将材料科学、工程和制造相结合，纳米和微米级制造已成为多种应用的“使能”技术。我们建议研究多功能纳米复合材料的制造。智能聚合物纳米复合材料被认为是有前途的新材料。碳基纳米颗粒，特别是碳纳米管（CNT）和石墨烯，由于其出色的机械、电和热性能而受到广泛关注。添加到聚合物组分中的微量碳基纳米颗粒可以显着增强其功能。通过增材和减材工艺相结合的精密制造，多功能复合材料对于实现便携性、出色的能源利用和传感能力至关重要。该计划的目标是深入了解并开发具有成本效益的 3D 纳米图案设备，使用各种纳米复合材料来协同增强功能。 聚合物纳米复合材料将利用新颖的喷涂和沉积方法沉积到所需的基材上。碳纳米颗粒将用氧化铁功能化，以便碳纳米颗粒可以与磁场对齐。电极将使用专有的铜纳米颗粒墨水沉积，光烧结将在柔性基板上生成导电路径。为了获得所需的功能，将通过建模来优化工艺，因为存在与均匀分散和厚度控制相关的几个挑战。 为了进一步增强纳米复合材料的功能，我们将研究纳米机械加工，利用原子力显微镜（AFM）探针去除材料并在纳米复合材料上生成图案。传统的基于尖端的加工在凹槽的制造方面受到限制，并且经常导致高侧面堆积。为了应对这一挑战，我们将通过在工具去除工件的一部分的同时对样品进行外部振动来实现振动辅助纳米机械加工。这将模仿旋转切削来剪切工件，以减少切削力并能够生成 3D 形状。 拟议计划的技术成果将成为加拿大其他新颖应用和发展的催化剂，这些进步将促进向工业合作伙伴的技术转让。此外，这项研究对于跨学科培养设计、材料科学、振动、制造、仿真和控制等高素质人才非常重要。

With the advent of the Internet of Things and Industrie 4.0, the development of miniature, cost-effective and reliable devices is becoming ever more important for today's society. Nano and micro scale manufacturing has become an “enabling” technology for a variety of applications by combining material science, engineering and manufacturing. We propose to research the manufacturing of multifunctional nanocomposites. Smart polymeric nanocomposites are considered promising new materials. A lot of attention is being paid to carbon-based nanoparticles, particularly carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphenes, due to their outstanding mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. A minute amount of carbon-based nanoparticulates added to polymer components can significantly enhance their functionalities. Precision manufacturing, through a combination of additive and subtractive processes, of multifunctional composites is vital in order to achieve portability, excellent energy usage and sensing capabilities. The goals of this program are in-depth knowledge and the development of cost-effective 3D nano-patterned devices using a variety of nanocomposites that synergistically enhance functionalities. Polymeric nanocomposites will be deposited onto desired substrates utilizing novel spraying and deposition methods. The carbon nanoparticulates will be functionalized with iron oxides, so that the carbon nanoparticulates can be aligned with magnetic fields. The electrodes will be deposited using proprietary copper nanoparticle based inks, and photo sintering will generate conductive paths onto flexible substrates. In order to obtain the desired functionalities, processes will be optimized through modeling, since there are several challenges associated with uniform dispersion and thickness control. To further enhance functionalities of nanocomposites, we will investigate nano mechanical machining utilizing an atomic force microscope (AFM) probe to remove material and generate patterns onto the nanocomposites. Traditional tip-based machining is limited in the fabrication of grooves and often results in high side pileups. To tackle this challenge, we will implement vibration-assisted nano mechanical machining by externally vibrating the samples while the tool removes a portion of the workpiece. This will mimic rotational cutting to shear the workpiece, in order to reduce the cutting forces and be able to generate 3D shapes. The technological outcomes through the proposed program will be the catalysts for other novel applications and developments in Canada, and the advancements will promote technology transfer to industrial partners. Moreover, this research is very important for the interdisciplinary training of highly qualified personnel, who will learn design, material science, vibrations, manufacturing, simulation and control.