This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes a nanostructural fabrication process for the production of high strength, lightweight metal-polymer nanolaminate materials. A patented ultra high speed polymer deposition process allows the formation of large area laminates with thousands of nanosize metal and polymer layers. The polymer materials have high thermal and mechanical stability, and the metal layers can be any of several materials, including Al, Ti, Ni, steel and SS. The proposed investigation will systematically explore the limits of this new process with particular focus on the mechanical material properties. In the Phase I work, lightweight materials such as Al will be processed into nanolaminate composites and the effects of metal layer thickness and metal/polymer thickness ratio will be compared to basic bulk material properties. The Phase II work will seek further optimization and in-depth testing of materials for specific industrial applications. High strength, lightweight polymer-metal multi-layer composites may have a range of applications that includes lightweight structural component for industrial, civil, and aeronautical applications, automotive parts and electrical and electronic applications.
