Metna Co

Mohammad Sayyar Bidgoli

Parviz Soroushian

Anagi Manjula Balachandra

A method of joining two articles through a nano-enhanced joining medium is described. Nanomaterials are applied to the surfaces of sheets made of the joining medium via casting or spraying. Said sheets with nanomaterial coatings are then placed between the joining surfaces of the articles, and then application of pressure and heating is used to form a nano-engineered structural joint at the interface of said articles. The distinctly high specific surface area of nanomaterials and the energetic preference of their functionalized surfaces for bonding facilitate the joining process. Nano-engineered structural joints complement high strength levels with desired toughness and the compliance needed for accommodating deformation (e.g. thermal expansion) mismatches of joined articles without generating high stress levels near their interface. The limited quantity (per unit joint surface area) of nanomaterials utilized in nano-engineered joints benefits their economic viability.

Nano-engineered structural joints: materials, procedures and applications thereof

Method of joining articles using microscale brazing alloy particles reinforced with slender nanomaterials is described. Surface modified graphite nanomaterials were dispersed in a medium comprised of metal alloy particles, this dispersion was introduced at the interface between the joining articles followed by heating under ultra high vacuum. The nanomaterial-to-metal alloy surface contacts were enhanced by at least one of fusion, embedment and chemical reaction phenomena under high temperature and ultra high vacuum yielding true nanocomposite at the interface. The fusion, embedment and chemical reaction phenomena enhance at least one of the mechanical, electrical, thermal, durability and functional attributes of these contact points, which translate into improved properties of the joined article. The enhanced contact points enable effective use of the distinct qualities of nanomaterials towards development of joints which offer unique balances of strength, ductility, toughness, energy absorption, thermal stability, weathering resistance and other characteristics.

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Lansing, MI, United States of America

Mohammad Sayyar Bidgoli