Nanoparticles-reinforced polymer composites for highly-loaded advanced mechanical components

Project duration

2011 - 2014

Project Category

SLO

Contact Information

prof. dr. Mitjan Kalin

Partners

  • Jožef Stefan Institute (Slovenia)
  • Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel)
  • CNRS in Blaise Pascal University (France)

Near-net shape nanoparticles-reinforced polymer-composites for highly-loaded advanced mechanical components. With improved superior tribological properties, nanocomposites will be suitable for using in environment without any additional lubrication.

Modern advanced mechanical systems need to operate under demanding working conditions, for various reasons, often without lubrication. Successful operation, therefore, depends on the properties of the surfaces and their ability to form wear-protective and low-friction boundery films, which are usually provided by additives.

The aim of this project is to produce nanoparticles-reinforced poly-ether-ether-keton (PEEK) composite, with self-lubricating nanoparticles, such as MoS2 and WS2 that can be used in environment without any additional lubrication. Nanocomposite will be made by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) that enables high homogeneity, formation of complex 3D components in a single process, with no additional mechanical treatment and with the quality, unattainable by any previous procedures for polymer nanocomposites synthesis.