Lightweight Multifunctional Hybrid Nanocomposites and Foams for Advanced Automotive Applications

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Recent advancements in nanomanufacturing have led to the mass production of graphene nanoplatelets (GnP). This has paved the way for novel polymer-based nanocomposites capable of replacing conventional composites reinforced with micro-sized fillers, such as glass fibers (GF). Our preliminary studies have demonstrated significant property improvements by taking a hybrid approach, i.e., employing a combination of the nano- and micro-sized fillers. This significantly contributes to the development of lightweight multifunctional products compared to the current heavy composites reinforced with extremely high micro-sized filler contents. Moreover, the introduction of foaming is another step towards the development of ultralightweight products. Therefore, the proposed project aims to achieve a fundamental understanding on the materials/processing parameters, that are applicable for the multi-scale development of novel nanocomposites and foams.The proposal outlines a comprehensive, systematic study, on developing lightweight multifunctional nanocomposites as effective replacements for conventional products, following two primary objectives: (i) development of ultralightweight GF and GnP-reinforced hybrid polymer composites with mechanical properties being superior to those of the current GF-based composites; (ii) development of multifunctional hybrid composites with fundamental analyses of the electrical and thermal conductivities.The annual survey of manufacturing industries released in 2021 demonstrates that manufacturing is a cornerstone of Canada's economy (~$750 billion). Bearing in mind that multifunctional polymer nanocomposites are an emerging class of materials in industries, such as automotive, aerospace, energy, and microelectronics, closing the knowledge and technology gaps through this collaboration would cause a beneficial chain effect on Canada's manufacturing sectors. Additionally, this project will allow for the training and formation of several highly qualified personnel, which will eventually bring their expertise to the Canadian advanced manufacturing and engineering community, as well as to academia.