Aston Martin and Rolls Royce Address Challenges in Auto and Aero Industries for Nano-enhanced Materials

The ‘wonder’ materials promised by nanotechnology are at last appearing in the commercial world, and they are solving real-world problems in the transport and performance engineering sectors. The higher visibility consumer products such as polishes, glass treatments and colour changing paints are only the tip of the iceberg. Nanofilled polymers and resins, and nanostructured ceramics and coatings, offer higher performance and/or additional functionality such as wear and erosion resistance, light-weighting, reduced friction, toughening, UV resistance, corrosion control, aesthetic enhancement. A key area is the hidden but important drive to find high performance, but environmentally friendly, alternatives to toxic materials.

Ian Minards, Director of Product Development, Aston Martin will be giving an overview of the environmental, legislative and market pressures in the high luxury automotive sector and will discuss how Aston Martin is looking to meet these challenges. Topics will include mass reduction, aerodynamic efficiency and friction reduction.

Dr Al Lambourne, Strategic Materials, Rolls-Royce will review the enabling role of nanotechnology in the Aerospace sector and Rolls-Royce’s policy to support early stage nanotechnology research. His presentation will include electronic materials, bulk structural materials and coatings, all aimed at enhancing future engine performance.

Dr Graham Sims, Head of Materials & Engineering, National Physical Laboratory (NPL) will focus on an exercise supported by the HiPerNano focus group to review the needs and feasibility of developing an engineering data handbook for nanocomposite properties. Using electrical properties of carbon nanotube filled polymers as a case study, Dr Sims will discuss the influences of processing, CNT type and length and issues related to improving the availability and validity of published data.

Additional speakers will cover a wide range of material and processing issues, and include, Johnson Matthey, Polyfect Solutions, Exilica, Promethean Particles, Keronite Group, Indestructible Paints, BHR Group and NetComposites UK.

“Nanomaterials are beginning to have a major commercial impact worldwide and the NanoKTN is building a UK community where aerospace, defence, security, power generation and automotive industries can access the commercial and performance benefits of nanomaterials for components which are subjected to extreme environments such as high temperature, friction and corrosion,” explains Dr Martin Kemp, Theme Manager at NanoKTN.

Kemp continues, “Delegates will have the opportunity to discuss material challenges and developments with end-users and industry professionals. Events like this are crucial to ensure nanomaterials are rapidly taken up to ensure commercial competitiveness.”