NANCORE
Title: Microcellular nanocomposite for substitution of Balsa wood and PVC core material
Duration: 01.11.2008 - 31.10.2012
Funding: EC, 7th Framework
Partners:
LM Glasfiber, Denmark
Aalborg University, Denmark
Recticel, Belgium
Universität Kassel, Germany
University of Valladolid, Spain
Azimut-Benetti, Italy
Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Poland
Institute of Occupational Medicine, United Kingdom
Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
EconCore, Belgium
FOCAL Limited, United Kingdom
Description:
Today, Balsa wood and PVC foam are widely used in energy and transport applications as a core material for lightweight composite sandwich structures. Nano-reinforced foams are the next generation materials because they present an opportunity to deliver unprecedented material performance. This opportunity is based on the unique mechanical properties that can vary abruptly with changes in the size of the material at the nanoscale (1 to 100 nanometers). To date, understanding of nano-scale materials and their properties has been achieved primarily through empirical or discovery-based research. While this approach will continue to make important contributions, the full understanding and development of nano-materials will be accelerated by a systematic understanding of physics fundamentals and modelling.
The main objective of this research is to develop a novel hierarchical model that will predict mechanical properties (such as stiffness and damage initiation) of cellular polymeric nano-composites and will allow to explore novel mechanisms of deformation and failure.
The work of CMG:
CMG group brings expertise in modelling of composites on the nano-, micro- and meso-levels (including sandwich materials) as well as their characterisation and testing:
- Modelling of mechanical properties (such as stiffness, failure initiation,…) of microcellular foams, in relation to the micro- and nano-structure.
- Experimental determination of local deformation pattern in cell walls and cell clusters using X-ray microtomography.
- Experimental study of foam (fracture) toughness.
People involved in the project:
ir. Oksana Shishkina
Dr. ir. Larissa Gorbatikh
Prof. Dr. Ir. Ignaas Verpoest
Contact:
Oksana.Shishkina@mtm.kuleuven.be
Larissa.Gorbatikh@mtm.kuleuven.be
