ULTRANANOMAN · Nanocomposite Materials Manufacturing by Ultrasonic Welding

Final Activity Report Summary - ULTRANANOMAN (Nanocomposite Materials Manufacturing by Ultrasonic Welding)

This project embraced the research, training and outreach activities of Prof. Haris Doumanidis as the Marie Curie Chair at the University of Cyprus, between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2007, which was related to nanocomposite materials' manufacturing by ultrasonic welding. Its research contributions consisted of fundamental and applied investigations using laboratory analysis, computational simulation and process control, and were highlighted by four key scientific achievements: 1. manufacture and characterisation of novel layered nanocomposite sheets, made of polymer or metal matrix foils with sandwiched nanotube, magnetic nanoparticle and nanofibre reinforcements, as well as nanoheater elements, and integrated by ultrasonic welding; 2. fabrication and analysis of nanoheater elements, i.e. reactive bimetallic nanostructures, made of sputtered thin film multilayers and patterned into islands, or nanorods evaporated inside nanoporous membranes, releasing localised, instantaneous heat upon electrical ignition or irradiation; 3. production of refractory intermetallic coatings from precursor layers, as well as full-density bulk structural and ignitable consolidates from powders and flakes, using thermal or ultrasonic compaction, and their thermo-mechanical numerical, i.e. finite-element, modelling and experimental testing; 4. analytical and particle simulation and distributed control and observation of heat and mass transfer phenomena during ultrasonic manufacture and operation of nanocomposites, along with electrical stirring of nanoparticles and mechanical manipulation by nanoheaters. The basic research discovered and elucidated the thermodynamics and kinetics of fundamental mechanisms in interfacial conductive and diffusive flow transport at nanoscale-sized materials. The applied research aspects investigated the process, structure and properties' relationship of ultrasonically fabricated nanocomposites, including their mechanical, magnetic and environmental performance, and explored their applicability to biomedical devices. The research training and educational contributions of the project consisted of six new courses introduced and offered by the chair in the host curriculum, including three graduate and three undergraduate, which benefited and were well received by diverse students. Three courses constituted a framework for research in manufacturing, ranging from basic laboratory experimentation to advanced computational techniques in design and manufacture. The other three courses formed a curricular backbone in controls, with emphasis on applied process modelling and advanced engineering control techniques. All courses made extensive use of demonstrations and hands-on projects in three new laboratories that were established and implemented by the chair. In addition, coursework was coupled with a popular bi-weekly seminar series in nanomanufacturing, which hosted over 60 international authorities as guest speakers. The outreach and mobility activities of the chair encompassed the organisation of the 'International Symposium on Nano-manufacturing' in Limassol, Cyprus, in November 2005, as well as other international conferences. The chair delivered numerous keynote and invited lectures worldwide, participated in many research meetings and technical panels, and served as a National contact point for new materials and production technologies (NCP-NMP) liaison with the European Community's Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), as well as a government advisor and industry consultant in Cyprus. Through the outcomes of this project, the chair attracted 12 new funded research projects, in partnership with local, European and international experts and participated in many joint projects and proposals. He also served as guest editor and reviewer for major technical journals and research foundations such as the European Science Foundation (ESF), the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) etc. The chair also contributed to pre-college education through summer schools, materials and laboratory visits for elementary and high schools and to the public information in nanomanufacturing via open lectures, media interviews, online reports and the project website.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union