The Science of micro and nanotechnology lead to the development of materials that have special mechanical structural and chemical properties that make them functional, efficient and highly commercial. Innovations in nanotechnology are promising to achieve advances in medicine, high performance diagnostics, manufacturing, high-performance materials, energy and environmental technologies.
As we understand the development strategy for the science-product relations leads to uniquely highly commercial market applications, offering high market value and pioneering product advantages.
Nova Mechanica SA through its pioneering research has developed High Value Added Products and Concepts with innovative Commercial applications ready to be sold to potential customers.
According to the material category these scientific results have the following applications:
Devices for quality control in the manufacturing process and use of rubber-like materials and gels
We have developed measuring devices and procedures to obtain mechanical properties of rubber-like materials (elastomers). Elastomers include many polymers and rubbers, as well as organic materials like human and animal tissues. Materials such as industrial rubber and in-house made gels have been tested with great success. We are developing devices that can operate on a micro to nano scale, in order to be able to capture properties of very small volumes such as tissues and very thin coatings.
The main idea is based on the indentation of surfaces of elastomer substrates by some form of rigid indentor (sphere, cone, pyramid) the measurement of indentation responses (applied force, surface deformation, contact area and time) and their interpretation to mechanical properties. The devices can be included at different stages of quality control in the manufacturing process. Other devices can be used for in situ measurements, depending on the end-user, increasing the safety level of operation of various components such as tires and belts. We have created prototypes and obtained two regional patents.
Elastic and viscoelastic mechanical properties can be found from analytic estimations and can be correlated to the average molecular weight of the elastomers. Toxic and hazardous substances can be also checked. The mechanical properties can be correlated with the state of the material, that is, existing residual stresses, fatigue level, solvent damage and radiation damage.
Main advantages of this technology are the very small volumes of materials can be tested, making the procedure very useful to the micro and nano technologies. Toxic and hazardous substances can be readily checked with safety. The mechanical properties can be correlated with the state of the material, that is, existing residual stresses, fatigue level, solvent damage and radiation damage. Applications include testing of Human tissues, leading to complementary or preliminary diagnostic devices for diabetic and cancerous tissues – elastography.
Functional composites with enhanced surface strength
We have developed functional composites (Functionally Graded Materials) with advanced mechanical surface strengths. Macro scale functional composites have been manufactured and tested with great success. Such composites can be immediately applicable to transportation infrastructure (roads, airfields). We are developing functional composites that can be applied on a micro to nano scale, in order to be able to design small volume devices and biomedical components.
We have constructed composites with enhanced mechanical properties by varying the composition of the reinforcing material in a specific way. The gradual volume content of various reinforcing agent followed analytic predictions that incorporated specific functional requirements regarding the surface strength of the composites.
The developed functional composites proved to have tremendous resistance against penetration and frictional forces, compared to homogeneous or simply layered composites. Advanced composite analysis was used to derive the profile of the mechanical properties (elastic modulus and yield strength) that are desirable to specific applications, such as artificial teeth, knee prostheses, armoury and other components that require high resistance against contact induced loads.
Indenters and indentation techniques
Able to capture properties of very small volumes of smart materials (piezoelectric and piezomagnetic materials), used in very thin coatings and micro-electro-mechanical devices.
We have developed measuring devices and procedures to obtain mechanical properties of piezoelectric and piezomagnetic materials. Such materials are very new and are poorly characterized regarding the mechanical and the electrical / magnetic properties. The main idea is based on the indentation of surfaces of piezoelectric and piezomagnetic substrates by some form of rigid indenter (sphere, cone, pyramid) the measurement of indentation responses (applied force, surface deformation, contact area, electric / magnetic field and time) and their interpretation to mechanical and electric / magnetic properties. The already developed devices can perform on the macro and micro scale. The devices can be included at different stages of quality control in the manufacturing process.
The electric / magnetic properties of the indenters can be controlled in order to obtain useful material data. At least one patent on piezomagnetic materials is under preparation. The technologically important piezomagnetic material Terfenol-D has been tested with great success. We are developing indenters that can operate on a micro to nano scale, in order to be able to capture properties of very small volumes such as very thin coatings and micro-electro- mechanical devices.
The electro-magneto-mechanical properties of smart materials can be found from analytic estimations and can be correlated to the composition (percentage of rare earths) of the materials. Very small volumes of materials can be tested, making the procedure very useful to the micro and nano technologies. The advantage of the technology is based on the coupling response between the electric / magnetic response and the mechanical response The properties can be correlated with the state of the material, that is the potency of the materials with operational temperature, aging etc. Applications include the development of micro-magnetic devices in many biomedical applications, e.g. cleaning arteries from thromboses.
Smart textiles
Textiles materials are poorly understood regarding their strength and functionality. The main idea is based on the special magnetostrictive characteristics of woven fibbers, not encountered in other textile materials. Textile materials can transmit mainly tensile membrane forces and their microstructure can store elastic energy through the plectonomics involved in the way that fibbers are braided together. Considerable deformation freedom can be obtained through proper control of the braiding technique of smart fibbers incorporated in the textile, which can increase locking, induce tensile residual stresses and control the fluid flow between fibbers.
We have tested cuts made on simple clothing, to formulate a strength index for textiles. We are extending the method for woven ropes and belts. We are also investigating the influence of the microstructure produced by the braiding techniques and hence the optimization of it, as well as the influence of stitching techniques.
The electro-magneto-mechanical properties of smart textiles can be found from analytic estimations and can be correlated to the special fibber composition. Smart textiles can be used also for energy harvesting, that is creating electric currents from the textile deformations. The advantage of the technology is based on the coupling response between the electric / magnetic response and the mechanical response.
Fracture properties of brittle material based on scratch tests.
Brittle materials (minerals, hard plastics, bones, teeth etc) fracture under high loads. Fractures (e.g. bone fracture, teeth fracture) can be detrimental and painful. They are difficult and sometimes impossible to repair. In other cases, fractures are wanted for drug delivery of hard pills or tablets that have to be crunched before swallowed (e.g. aspirins). It is then important to know the fracture toughness of such materials, especially when the available material volumes are small. We are developing a micro scratching procedure that leads to the estimation of the fracture toughness. We have successfully tested this macro-scratching method to several rocks with success.
The innovation is based on the unique analysis that can translate the scratching measurements to fracture resistance material property.
Advantages
The advantages of our technology are the very small material volumes need to be tested , and the testing conditions can vary (temperature, surrounding fluids etc).
Applications
Artificial teeth, Medicine-Health
Cement Technology
We are developing novel measuring devices and methodologies to obtain mechanical properties of cement (elastic modulus, shear strength, toughness and pressure sensitivity). The main idea is to use small volumes of material and be able to correlate the chemical composition with the mechanical properties of cement (e.g. The amount of calcium directly correlates with the strength).
The methodology is currently tested in the micro and macro scale. The devices can be included at different stages of quality, in the manufacturing process, as well as in the applications.
Therefore, it can be useful for both the cement producers and the cement users (civil engineering, constructions).
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