| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/K89993/01 |
| Title: |
THE WILD SIDE OF NANOCOMPOSITE TECHNOLOGY |
| Principal Investigator: |
Wyeth, Dr P |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Southampton |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 February 1997 |
Ends: |
31 January 1999 |
Value (£): |
84,131
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Environment |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The special mechanical advantages inherent in the variety of ceramic-reinforced biological structures can be attributed to the nanocomposite form of these materials, the nature of the particular inorganic fillers, the character of the organic matrices and the interactions at the inorganic-organic interfaces. The underlying principals of natural technology, once revealed, will offer singular insight to the design of nanocomposites for stronger, stiffer and more fracture-resistant materials. The particular objectives of this project are to correlate the micromechanics of some robust bioceramics, the hard-wearing shells of species of bivalve mollusc which bore into wood and rock, with their microstructure, ultrastructure and nano-crystallochemistry. Microhardness, wear, compressive stiffness and strength, toughness and crack-propagation will be determined by standard methods. The usual set of characterisation techniques will help to delineate the mineral composition, and, principally, scanning and transmission electron microscopies will be applied to the structural analysis. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the toughening and strengthening mechanisms in these materials at the nanoscale and further up the organisational hierarchy. The results may be exploited in the synthesis of improved nanostructures and laminated composites, for applications from aerospace to medicine.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.soton.ac.uk |