RESEARCH OVERVIEW FOR NICKEL NANOSTRANDS (C.J. Gardner)

Nickel nanostrand polymer composites are novel materials with increased performance and functionality that can combine the benefits of various previous materials and introduce entirely new functions.  The applications for these materials are still expanding but include electromagnetic field shielding, lightening strike protection, highly conductive adhesives and bonding agents, lightweight satellite dishes, and the potential for high elongation strain gauges and a myriad of other possibilities.

The nickel nano material is produced using a proprietary chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process that results in a tree-like structure of nano-strands with a volume fraction of less than 1% nickel. This fully connected mass of nickel is broken into small components that retain a branching structure, and will hereafter be termed ‘animals’ (from terminology in percolation theory referring to connected clusters). These animals are incorporated into polymer systems, and result in composites with unusual properties. Of particular interest, the electrical conductivity is higher than would be expected for the volume of nickel nanostrands, and the conductivity changes dramatically under mechanical load.

The objective of our research is to further characterize the piezoresistive properties of nickel nanostrand composites under tensile strain, compressive strain, load-fatigue, time-fatigue, and temperature variations.  Further, we aim to develop a physics-based mathematical framework that both explains the engineering properties of the nickel nano-composites, and serves as a basis for design and improvement of related multi-functional materials.

Nano-Nickel