Nanotechnology:

multifunctional engineered
materials
in Alenia Aeronautica

Ing. Erika Calvi - Alenia Aeronautica

ecalvi@aeronautica.alenia.it

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference

3-5 Dicember Moscow

Long term targets of air transportation development

Air Transportation
Demonstrate an automated and integrated air transportation
capability that would triple capacity by 2025
Reduce aviation noise and emissions by 90 %
Reduce aviation fatal accident rate by 90 %
Reduce transit time between any two points on earth by 50 %

Time to Market and Product Cycle Time

Reduce the transition time from technology demonstration to
operational capability from years-decades to weeks-months.

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

Major needs of next generation vehicles

Ability to build large lightweight structures with properties based on

high performance materials and innovative manufacturing and assembly
processes with the objective of weight, cost and schedule containment
Envisaged solutions:
Use of materials, with stronger and tailorable properties associated with
lightness;
Approach design solutions to reduce global failure and improve life-cycle
costs of components;
Define assembly and manufacturing approaches for net shaped components
without machining;
Introduction of multifunctional and adaptive materials (e.g. SMA,
nanoparticles, embedded electronic devices);
Acquisition of a multi-scale modeling capability that introduces innovative
analysis and design methods
Development of neural networks and Information Technology techniques for
the structure control.
Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

Nanotechnology Opportunity for Next Generation

Commercial Aircraft
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Anisotropic Composite
En
Materials
Mechanical performance
enhancements through alloying
& heat treatments

Isotropic Metal
Materials

Nano-Modified
Composite Materials
Broad mechanical property
improvements
Enhanced acoustic performance
Flammability and solvent resistance
enhancements
Conductivity and CTE tailoring
Inherent color, optical qualities, etc.
Multi-functionality

Fiber orientation optimizing effects on

strength & stiffness
Laminate tailoring for coupled
deformations
Independent toughness improvements
through polymer alloying and
controlling phase morphology

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

The promise of true

multi-functional
engineered
materials.

Composite manufacturing in Alenia products

For aeronautical products are
mainly used:
Thermosetting matrix
Long and continuous fibers
Lay up
Vacuum bag

Prepreg materials

- Optimization of the stiffener and

strain through the orientation of the
fibers
- Staking
sequence
according
to
deformation
- Improving of the toughness through
the right choosing of the polymers and
controlling of them morphology
Curing in autoclave

Polymerized structure
Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

Nano-reinforced composites

The promise of multi-functionality. By creating nm scale structures, it is

possible to control fundamental properties of materials like melting temperature,
magnetic properties, charge capacity, mechanical properties.
The promise of true engineered materials. Utilizing this potential will lead to
new, high-performance products and technologies that were not previously
possible, by circumventing traditional performance tradeoffs.

Standard
composite

nanocomposite

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

Nanoreinforced
composite

NanoComposite potential applications

Carbon nanotube strengthened
epoxy resin for increased compression
and interlaminar shear strength in
composites (fuselage and wing)

Nano-sensors for both

active and passive
noise reduction
(fuselage section 41)

Nanotechnology to reduce
flammability (fuselage)

Thermal and
Flammability

Noise Reduction

Performance Enhancements
Weight Reduction

EME Protection

Nanosize conductive fillers to

toughen composite interlayer
(fuselage)

Resin Infusion Process

Nanoparticles in vacuum assisted
resin transfer molding composites

Quality Assurance Systems

Utilize nanomaterial
component to achieve
desired mechanical
properties

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

Boeing Courtesy

Development activities on multifunctional materials

in Alenia Aeronautica
Investigation on innovative materials:
Polymers with dispersion of MWCNTs or SWCNTs
Polymers with dispersion of Nanoclays
Nanostructured Alloys
Polymers with disperion of nanocrystals
Self-healing polymers
Shape Memory Alloy

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

Design of the Material: Multiscale Modelling

Tailoring of material properties starting from the properties of the basic
components
Homogenisation
Molecular modelling and dynamics: Interaction of compounds, ageing behaviour,
cure reactions
Mesoscale Modelling: Diffusion and Dispersion properties of nano-particles,
nano-tubes in polymer matrices.
Interface Properties
Macrokinetic Modelling for simulation of transport & degradation phenomena
time

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

lenght

Green Regional Aircraft

- LWC RENATA

FST requirements

Weight
Impact
saving
resistance

Thin coating able to reduce the radar

signature of a target based on
nanotechnology features, particularly
CNTs
Improvement of CRFP aerostructures
trhough nano-modification of matrix
with:
- MWCNTs
FUSELAGE & EMPENNAGES
- Nanoclays
- Self-Healing materials
PROJECTS

SALINA
Integration of Structural and
Functional requirements with the
aim to obtain
multifunctional
structures

Development of:
New Frequency Selective Surfaces

Nanoimproved
Nano-structured
performance metallic materials

Nanotechnology
Multiscale Project

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow

EM
protection

Environmental
resistance
Noise
reduction

Flying platform to demonstrate innovative composite

technologies :
- Sensor to continuously control accidental damage,
environment effects, and in service structural
degradation
- Multi layer/multi-function architectures concept to
decrease the negative weight impact depending on
multiple functions requested to the structure

Development
of
innovative
technologies to realise composite
materials with a polymeric matrix
embedding
nanodispersions
(nanocomposite)
The presence of nanoparticles will allow to
obtain both high structural performance
(damage tolerance) and tailored EM
properties

AEROCOMP & TATIANA

Rusnanotech 2008 Conference, 3-5 Dicember Moscow