12-09-2005
-- Tesimorph ® EAB-80, a
new experimental aluminium / boron material with
a particle size of 80 nm , has just been developed
under a research contract from the UK MOD by QinetiQ
Nanomaterials Limited (QNL). It offers significant
potential for applications like pyrotechnics for
air bags, rocket motors (both hybrid motors and solid
propellant) and other propellants where enhanced
energy and faster burn rates are required.
“This is the first time an aluminium boron hybrid
particle has been produced at the nano scale and
it's many times smaller than anything currently available,” explained
Dr Paul Reip, Managing Director of QNL. “Conventional
process methods for aluminium powders tend to produce
relatively large, micron size particles. Our
experimental work on alloyed and structured metal
nanoparticles using our Tesima ® process
not only produces commercial quantities of nano size
aluminium particles, opening up a wide range of potential
applications, it can also result in hybrid materials
and alloys that cannot otherwise be produced.”
QNL develops bespoke metal, oxide, carbide and nitride
nanopowders in the 20nm to 100nm particle size range
for specific customer applications using its patented Tesima ® process.
The process is continuous, allowing extended operation
and is scaleable so that quantities from kilogrammes
to tonnes are possible. By incorporating materials
at the nano scale, different physical properties
can be added to existing materials, either improving
their functionality or giving them unique properties. Powders
are manufactured dry but can also be incorporated
into other media, such as liquids or polymers.
The Tesima ® process
has great flexibility and a far greater range of
capability than the manufacture of basic metal and
oxide nanopowders. This latest development
is part of QinetiQ's ongoing work on complex and
modified nanomaterials under the Tesimorph ® brand. Although
still in the early stages it is already creating
a diverse range of complex and structured materials,
including alloys that for the first time can be made
at the nano scale. Tesimorph ® ES-25
Stainless Steel which was first manufactured
earlier this year was QinetiQ's first move into this
area and others in the family should include shape
memory alloys.
By up rating its Tesima ® production
system QinetiQ is now able to produce continuously
reactive metal powders in safety. It can also
now develop a range of materials to improve the performance
of devices such as airbags and seat belt tensioners
as well as devices for the oil and gas industry,
aerospace and defence.
Dr
Paul Reip concluded “We have now reached a point
where we are actively seeking industrial partners
to further develop this family of metallic Tesimorph ® nanomaterials
and bring them to market. The key issue is always
the need to scale-up the manufacture. The Tesima ® process
can be scaled to produce consistent and reproducible
product and is an excellent match for large scale
industrial development. ''
Recently
developed nanomaterials include silver – a
material with numerous applications, particularly
valued for its anti-microbial properties; aluminium
for energetics and explosive applications; cuprous
oxide for anti-fungal applications; tungsten carbide
for cermets; zinc oxide for UV protection; and cerium
oxide for catalysts.
QNL is a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Group,
Europe 's largest research and technology organisation.
Notes
· Tesimorph ® EAB-80 is
part of QNL's special Tesimorph ® product
range of materials that also includes mixed oxides,
layered materials, doped materials such as yttria
stabilised zirconia and non stoichiometric materials.
Other products under QinetiQ's Tesima ® brand
comprise: Tesimox ® ,
a family of oxides with sizes ranging from 20 to
100nm and includes ZnO, ZrO 2 , CuO, Cu 2 O, SnO
2 , TiO 2 , CeO 2 , Al 2 O 3 ; Tesimet ® which
comprises pure metals and alloys such as Al, Cu,
Ag, Co, Ni and Ti to which passivation layers can
also be applied during manufacture; and Tesimide ® which
consists of metal carbides and nitrides including
the recent successful manufacture of 60nm WC.
· QinetiQ (pronounced ki' ne tik as in ‘kinetic
energy') is a leading global defence technology and
security company. Founded in July 2001 from
the majority of the Defence Evaluation and Research
Agency (DERA), the laboratories of the UK MOD, QinetiQ
today has grown internationally, with around 11,500
employees in the UK and US, many of them internationally
acclaimed experts, providing government and commercial
customers sophisticated resources to create, evaluate,
test, and deliver technology-based services, solutions
and products.
· As part of its growing security business,
recently launched products include: Tarsier – a radar
system to identify debris on an airport runway; BorderWatch – to
see into vehicles to identify possible stowaways;
The MillimetreWave Portal – a people screening system
to identify concealed weapons; Ferroguard – a man-portable
metal detection system; and X-net – a system to stop
vehicles being driven through checkpoints.
For further information,
please contact
Douglas
Millard in the QinetiQ Press Office on Tel: +44 (0) 1252 394611
/ 3500
Email: DMillard@QinetiQ.com /
PressOffice@QinetiQ.com
A1 Building, Cody Technology
Park , Ively Road , Farnborough, HANTS GU14 0LX
Visit the new website at www.QinetiQ.com
|
