English
Ελληνικά
NAMCO intends to deliver a novel technology for the production of nanostructured alumina based components with metallic and/or ceramic inclusions. Manufacturing of nanostructured materials has received immense attention over the recent years owing to their unique mechanical and physical properties. Up to now, despite the high commercial availability of nanopowders, the fabrication of fully dense nanograined components has encountered major difficulties especially in nanopowder processing, arising from their intrinsic nature i.e. great tendency for agglomeration.
In order to surmount these challenges, this project will combine the existing scientific expertise of various partners for the development of a comprehensive methodology encompassing all the necessary steps for nanocomponents production and targeting in the effective processing of nanopowders along with the preservation of the final product's nanostructure. The derived nanocomposite products will exhibit enhanced nanostructure-related features and will be therefore excellent candidates for applications in existing and future developing areas. An additional benefit of these materials is reduction in sintering temperature and time and thus an essential energy saving.
The proposed methodology will involve optimization of synthesis, processing and densification of nanopowders based on mathematical/computational models developed for the description and prediction of physical processes during sintering. Detailed characterization of the nanostructure will be performed along with multi-scale modelling methods addressing both the degradation of material properties in aggressive environment and the reliability of nanocrystalline components. Correlation of products wear/failure with their properties, nanostructure and processing will provide important information on their weak points with the aim to finally design a new material with controlled nanostructure and properties using an optimized processing protocol.
