Manufacturing of Multifunctional Nanocomposites

随着物联网和工业4.0的到来，微型、经济高效和可靠的设备的开发对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经成为一项适用于各种应用的“使能”技术。我们建议对多功能纳米复合材料的制备进行研究。智能聚合物纳米复合材料被认为是很有前途的新材料。碳基纳米粒子，特别是碳纳米管和石墨烯，由于其优异的力学、电学和热学性能，正受到人们的广泛关注。在聚合物组分中添加微量的碳基纳米颗粒可以显著增强其功能。通过加法和减法工艺相结合的精密制造多功能复合材料，对于实现便携性、出色的能源使用和传感能力至关重要。该计划的目标是深入了解和开发使用各种纳米复合材料协同增强功能的具有成本效益的3D纳米图案化设备。 利用新的喷涂和沉积方法，聚合物纳米复合材料将沉积在所需的衬底上。碳纳米颗粒将用氧化铁进行功能化，这样碳纳米颗粒就可以与磁场对准。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产生导电路径。为了获得所需的功能，将通过建模来优化工艺，因为均匀分散和厚度控制存在几个挑战。 为了进一步增强纳米复合材料的功能，我们将利用原子力显微镜(AFM)探针来研究纳米机械加工，以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仅限于制造沟槽，并且经常导致较高的侧面堆积。为了应对这一挑战，我们将实施振动辅助纳米机械加工，方法是在刀具移除部分工件的同时对样品进行外部振动。这将模拟旋转切割来剪切工件，以减少切削力并能够生成3D形状。 通过拟议计划取得的技术成果将成为加拿大其他新应用和开发的催化剂，这些进步将促进向产业合作伙伴转让技术。此外，这项研究对高素质人才的跨学科培养非常重要，他们将学习设计、材料科学、振动、制造、仿真和控制。

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.