Evaporation-Based Method For Manufacturing And Recycling Of Metal Matrix Nanocomposites

Summary

UCLA researchers in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering have developed a new method to manufacture and recycle metal matrix nanocomposites.

Background

Metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs) have applications in a variety of industries including: metal casting, defense, aerospace, automobile, and electronics. These industries have strong demand for lightweight, strong, and ductile materials, and MMNCs meet these requirements. However, current technologies are not scalable and struggle to yield high quality MMNCs with uniform deposition of nanoparticles onto the metal matrix. Additionally, with the increasing need for MMNCs recycling of these nanocomposites will become important; currently no technology addresses this issue.

Innovation

UCLA Prof. Xiaochun Li and colleagues have developed a novel evaporation based method for the creation of MMNCs with a high level of uniformity, significantly larger size particles, and higher deposition of particles onto the metal matrix. Additionally the technology allows for recycling after the evaporation deposition stage, allowing for recovery of both the metal and nanoparticle components of the reaction.

Applications

Manufacturing and recycling of MMNCs for use in the:

• Automotive industry
• Defense sector
• Aerospace industry
• Metal casting
• Electronics manufacturing

Advantages

• Produces high quality, high uniformity MMNCs at a much larger scale compared to previous technologies
• Allows for recycling of both the metal and nanocomposite material

Patent Status