Application Areas:
- Filtration (Air and Water)
- Healthcare (Masks, wound dressings)
- Targeted Drug Delivery
- Tissue Engineering
- Cosmetics
Research & Development
Richard Feynman in his iconic talk on “There’s plenty of room at the bottom” envisioned that one day we will be making things at the atomic level and since these small things will build upwards, we will be able to make them more precisely and control what we want them to do. This prediction came true at the turn of the century with the onset of nanoscience.
At the nanoscale (1-100 nm), materials exhibit size-dependent physical and chemical properties and are significantly different from their bulk counterparts (quantum and surface effects are dominated). These properties can include enhanced mechanical, electrical, thermal, surface, chemical, and optical behaviour. Size-dependent behaviour opens up new possibilities for designing new materials with tailored properties. Nanomaterials can be precisely engineered and customized by controlling their size, shape, composition, and surface properties. This level of control allows us to create novel materials with specific properties optimized for various applications. And therefore, we, at ATIRA aim to explore nanomaterial research in depth mainly to enhance the mechanical, electrical and thermal properties of Composite materials
ATIRA’s Nanomaterial based Research Focus Areas:
1. Graphene
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice structure, forming a two-dimensional (2D) material with exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Given its unique combination of exceptional properties, Graphene is indeed one of the most promising nanomaterials. It is not only the thinnest but also one of the strongest materials. It is optically transparent, yet so dense that it is impermeable to gases as well
2. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs)
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylindrical molecules that consist of rolled-up sheets of single-layer carbon atoms (graphene). They can be single-walled (SWCNT) or multi-walled (MWCNT), with diameters reaching more than 100 nm. Their length can reach several micrometers or even millimeters. Apart from their electrical properties, which they inherit from graphene, CNTs also have unique thermal and mechanical properties that make them intriguing for the development of new materials
3. Conductive Carbon Black Nanoparticles
As a traditional filler material, carbon black has the advantages of low cost, easy production, natural abundance, and favourable conductivity. It can be used as a building phase for the construction of conductive and high strength polymer composites
4. Metallic Nanomaterials:
Silver nanoparticles have attracted large interest in the photonics, electrics, analytical, and antimicrobial/biocidal fields due to their excellent optical, electrical, biological, and antibacterial properties. The versatility in generating different sizes, shapes, and surface morphologies results in a wide range of applications of silver nanoparticles in various industrial and health-related areas
Research Topics:
- Enhanced mechanical performance of Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Exploring role of nanomaterials to enhance the mechanical strength of diverse materials including carbon fibres-reinforced composites to create more robust and lightweight structures for aerospace and defence.
- Enhanced electrical conductivity of Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Widen the scope of applications of traditional fibre-reinforced composites by enhancing electrical properties and exploring possible applications in aerospace, EMI shielding, lightning strike protection, sensors, reflectors, and de-icing.
- Graphene based E-Textile Sensors: Leverage Graphene's unique properties to introduce new functionalities in the fabrics/fibers/yarn for e-textiles, revolutionizing wearable tech for healthcare, safety, and security.
- Improving mechanical properties of natural fibers-based composites for sustainable growth: Graphene/CNT-based natural fibres-reinforced composites to create lighter, stronger, and more effective materials.
Application Areas:
- Aerospace Industry
- E-Textiles
- Defence
- Energy Sector
- Sports equipment
- Sensors
Nanotechnology:
Nanofibers are one of the unique materials that have high surface-to-volume ratio, low resistance and enhanced filtration performance. This makes nanofibers an attractive material for many applications. Electrospinning provides an enabling nanotechnology platform for generating a rich variety of novel structured materials. With our state-of-the-art electrospinning facility, we have an expertise to develop nanofiber-based applications for Filtration, Cosmo- textiles and many other Health care applications
Research Topics:
- Development of Portable and easy to use Water Filtration Treatment Device
- Design and development protective face mask using Nanofibres based textile
- Development of PA6 and Chitosan Nanofibres Based Water Filter
- Development of PVDF, Teflon coated Nanofibres based Thermal Insulation fabric for Defence application
- Development of Neem oil based PA6 Nanofibres coated Antibacterial fabric
- Development of Nanofibres based Cigarette filter
- Development of PTFE Nanofibres based media for filtration under corrosive/high temperature condition
- Development of HEPA Filters using Nanospinning technology