Journal of Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering
Open Access

Ceramic and Polymer Nanocomposites for Aerospace

Priyadarshini Jha^{* *}Correspondence: Priyadarshini Jha, Department of Biotechnology, Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, India, Email:

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Brief Report

Nanocomposites, which have a 25 percent yearly growth rate owing to their multifunctional characteristics, are the materials of the twenty-first century. Researchers from all over the globe are drawn to them because of their unique design possibilities and characteristics. Nanocomposites are growing their promise in aerospace applications and future space missions due to their ability to combine desirable characteristics. The choice of nanocomposites’ ingredients (matrix and nanofillers) improves a number of desirable characteristics. Mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical, and biodegradable characteristics are all important in aircraft applications. Chemical properties such as corrosion resistance or passiveness are critical. Aside from low weight, aerospace structures must have mechanical qualities such as strength, toughness, fatigue life, impact resistance, and scratch resistance in order to be designed. Low solar absorption, radiation resistance, high thermal emissivity, and electrical conductivity are all required for aircraft flying at high altitudes. Because nanocomposites are being used more often, disposing of them once they have served their purpose is a major problem. Apart from their practical qualities, biodegradable properties are also preferred. Few nanocomposites have emerged because of their environmental friendliness. Nanofillers with a modest volume of 1–5% can improve the characteristics of composite materials to a level equivalent to traditional microfillers with a volume of 15–40%. Nanofillers offer remarkable characteristics due to their defect-free fundamental structure at the crystal level. Nanomaterials are categorised according to their size. Iso-dimensional (three- dimensional) nanoparticles, such as silica, metal particles, and semiconductor particles, have three dimensions at the nanoscale. Nanotubes, also known as whiskers, are a kind of two-dimensional nanoparticle having two dimensions on the nanometer scale (less than 100 nm) and a third dimension that forms an extended shape (aspect ratio greater than 100). Each form of nanofiller has its own set of benefits, drawbacks, and characteristics. Nanocomposites are divided into three groups (as are microcomposites) based on the kind of matrix used: polymer matrix nanocomposites (PMNCs), ceramic matrix nanocomposites (CMNCs), and metal matrix nanocomposites. Fibers, whiskers, platelets, and carbon nanotubes were used to overcome polymer matrix disadvantages such as poor modulus and shear strength (CNTs). Inorganic fillers improve mechanical strength, impact strength, thermal stability, and flame retardancy, all of which are important in aerospace applications.

Ceramic matrix nanocomposites combine ceramic characteristics such as wear resistance, high thermal stability, and chemical stability with nanofiller properties. Whiskers, fibres, and platelets are nanofillers that improve the fracture toughness of ceramics, reducing their brittleness. Furthermore, these reinforcements halt the fracture and prevent it from spreading. Toughening and strengthening are imparted through phase change and volume expansion in CMNC. The crack-bridging mechanism of nanosized reinforcements increases the fracture toughness of nanocomposites like alumina/silicon carbide (Al2O3/SiC). Nanofibers incorporated into a ceramic matrix produce great toughness and improved failure characteristics. Because of the discovery of carbon nanotubes, multifunctional ceramic composites with better mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics have been developed. The incorporation of CNT-woven fibres into textiles has opened up new possibilities in the field of nanocomposites. Based on the equivalent volume of a carbon fibre with a high aspect ratio, CNTs generally have 500 times greater surface area. The CMNCs have a high tensile strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity due to a minimal number of flaws per unit length. Polymers are macromolecules made up of covalently linked repeating units (monomers). The nanostructure of polymers can be changed by dispersing nanoparticles in them. The polymer retains the reinforcement while preserving the polymer’s characteristics. Depending on the kind of reinforcement, polymer nanocomposites are divided into three groups. These include nanofiber or CNT- reinforced nanocomposites, layered reinforcement nanocomposites, and discontinuous reinforcement nanocomposites. Ceramics are fragile and easily fractured materials. Ceramics are not appropriate for most aircraft components because they are exposed to vibration and fatigue.

Ceramics, on the other hand, are hard, inert, and stable at greater temperatures. Such characteristics are required for aircraft components that are exposed to high temperatures and corrosive environments. The ceramic materials have been given a lot of attention in order to make them robust. A ductile phase is added to ceramics to avoid fracture and increase strength and fracture toughness. The ratio of surface area/volume and the relationship of various phases of matrix and reinforcements are the most important properties of nanocomposite. High performance is critical in various aerospace structures, such as equipmentenclosures, aircraft interiors, coatings, cockpits, crew gear, heat shrinkage tubing, space resilient mirrors, housings, shrouds, nozzles, and solar array substrates, in addition to being lightweight. Chemical stability and fire resistance are among the benefits of composite materials, which also have the advantage of cheap running costs due to their light weight. To begin with, increased electrical resistance limits applications such as electromagnetic shielding, circuits, antennas, and lightning strike protection. Aerospace constructions are exposed to a variety of conditions, including moisture and temperature fluctuations. Jet fuel, deicing fluid, and hydraulic fluid all come into touch with them. The coatings should be able to survive lightning strikes, UV radiation, and dust erosion at 500 miles per hour. A primer and a topcoat are usually used in aeronautical coatings. The primer adheres to the substrate and protects it against corrosion. Future missions will need big lightweight parts that can keep their characteristics for over 30 years in extreme conditions including atomic oxygen and solar radiation.