Nanomaterials and Future Aviation Sector: Opportunities and Approach

INTRODUCTION

The innovation in science nowadays deals with materials at nanoscale, typically ranging  from sub nanometre to hundred nanometres. The property given by nanomaterials i.e.  superconductivity and super magnetic effect has allowed the scientists to use them in the  devices such as sensors, monitoring devices, flight equipment etc. Within this box, the  main challenge for the aviation industry is to identify the correct use of the nanomaterials  and to use it wisely for the innovations on the current devices. In addition, which innovation  will change the future of the aviation industry should be known and kept into consideration.  Nanomaterials will have an extreme major effect in the defence industry ranging from the  suits of soldiers to the structures of aircraft, coatings of devices and many encrypted data  things. Engineered Nanomaterials used in aviation industry helps with some major  properties. These properties includes weight reduction, high strength to weight ratio,  covered radiation for electronic systems and passengers, life support. Carbon based  nanomaterials such as graphene, Bucky balls, carbon nanotubes, nanofibers are widely  covered up into consideration. The nanomaterials added to the polymer matrix, which leads  to composite matrix that is applied with the help of fluid during moulding or painting. The useful impact that nanotechnology served the world is component miniaturization. The final aim of this Nanotechnology is to control the materials and the producing devices on Nano-scale. In addition, two factors i.e. Time and Cost play important part in this technology. For defence sector, the nanotechnology affects ranges from the propulsive systems to the payload capacities.  

Versatile and Compatible Structural Materials

Either future systems operated or unmanned, both will need the structural materials more  than just being simple, loosening or tightened, stiff and stronger. While improving  performance, the focus is kept on weight and area control along with the extra  performance. Hence, the future designers must thought of the structural material, which  can actual sense, communicate, store energy or harvest energy. In short, they should be  versatile and multifunctional. Driving mass out of a system directly leads to increased  efficiency for the same performance, or increased performance for the same efficiency. As  there will be a need of miniaturization, the integration of the materials will be very  beneficial. The materials are adaptive in the environment if they have the capacity to  change or alter themselves according to the inputs and external function given to them  through a controllable manner.

Polymer Nanocomposites

PNCs are gaining more attention since past decade. They consists of a polymer matrix, which contains Nano fillers dispersers into them. A range of enforcements of  nanoscale is used to make PNCs. The Nano fillers used can be of different shapes  such as spheres, cylindrical units etc. Nanomaterial based composites provides various multifunctional properties such as thermal stability, electronic properties,  field emission, optical properties, material durability, high impact resisting power,  energy absorption and many more which are particularly fruitful for aerospace  applications. 

Applications in Aerospace

Propulsion: Rocket science was the basic elementary start for the usage of the  engineered materials. Increased reactivity and faster burning ratio can be obtained by the higher specific area given by the nanoscale materials. For higher results, the  balance between the reactivity and storage of the materials should be maintained. This increased reactivity and faster burning are seen in the nanoscale aluminium. 

Thermal Protection/covering: Nowadays, nanoscale materials incorporated with  thermal coverings and protection for enhancing the thermal control and stability. The materials are also used in Thermal Protection Systems (TPS). TPS, incorporated  with Carbon Nanotubes (CNT’s) are in very high demand. 

Weight reduction: The main concern for the aerospace sector is the weight factor of  the air vehicle. Weight reduction helps in the increment of payload, carrying  capacity, instruments load, power systems etc. For this weight reduction, the fuel  emissions and consumptions is also low. The current role is to maximize the use of  lightweight carrying composites in the air vehicles. However, by using materials on  nanoscale leads to maximum capacity of the air vehicle carrying passengers and  other things.  

Energy and Power supply: Aviation systems need more liable power systems production and storage. Existing power and energy systems are taken away by the  nanomaterial enforced devices and units. Engineered materials such as polymer  composites, CNTs etc. are on a continuous observation and are under development. 

Opportunities and Approach

To be in pace, the global aviation industry has targeted the use of nanoscale particles for a  better outcome. One potential solution is to maximize the use and minimize the cost of  production. Nanomaterials are taken into consideration now for the modelling and scaling  purposes. Nanotechnology leaders in the aerospace community have noted that for the  industry to utilize nanomaterials, a new type of commitment among commercial and scientific systems is very crucial.