Stretchable Nanocomposite Skin for Morphing Structures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current deformable nanocomposite materials lack sufficient stiffness to support aerodynamic loads and exhibit limitations in reversible stretchability and permeability, making them unsuitable for advanced morphing and deployable structures that require shape change with minimal area change.
Innovation Solution
A stretchable multiple-layer nanocomposite material comprising a network of nanotubes modified with an elastomeric polymer, where the nanotube content and polymer composition can vary across the surface area to tailor mechanical properties, including nanotube content between 5 wt% and 90 wt% and elastomeric polymer content between 10 wt% and 95 wt%, allowing for reversible stretch capacity and enhanced stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If nanotubes are dispersed in polymer to create deformable nanocomposite, then stretchability is improved, but stiffness is insufficient to support aerodynamic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining nanotubes with elastomeric polymer to achieve both stretchability and stiffness. The nanotube network provides mechanical reinforcement while the elastomeric polymer provides flexibility, creating a material that can stretch reversibly yet maintain sufficient stiffness to support aerodynamic loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs varying nanotube content across different regions of the material (5-90 wt%) to create local variations in mechanical properties. This allows the material to have stiffer regions for load support and more flexible regions for stretching, resolving the contradiction between overall stiffness and stretchability.
2Area of moving object
If existing stretchable materials are used, then area change capability is improved, but permeability and timescale of transition are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a thin-film nanocomposite structure that can stretch and deform while maintaining barrier properties. The elastomeric polymer matrix provides flexibility for area change while the nanotube network maintains structural integrity and controls permeability, enabling reliable performance in morphing structures.
3Strength
If multiple layers are laminated to enhance stiffness, then load support capability is improved, but stretchability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the material into multiple laminated layers, each contributing different mechanical properties. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve high load support capability through the stacked layers while maintaining stretchability through the elastomeric polymer content in each layer, resolving the contradiction between stiffness and flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The material achieves a reversible stretch capacity of 5-50% and an elastic modulus of 50 MPa to 10 GPa, providing the necessary stiffness and stretchability for morphing and deployable structures while maintaining a continuous outer surface, and can be tailored for specific applications such as aircraft wings and deployable habitats.
Implementation Method 1
The nanotubes are modified with an elastomeric polymer to provide reversible stretch capacity
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric polymer comprises thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic polyurethane, rubber, silicone rubber
Implementation Method 3
a network of nanotubes modified with an elastomeric polymer
Implementation Method 4
stretchable multiple-layer nanocomposite material comprising at least a nanocomposite material layer comprising a network of nanotubes modified with an elastomeric polymer
Implementation Method 5
at least one additional layer laminated with the nanocomposite material layer
Data Source
AI summary
A stretchable multiple-layer nanocomposite material is provided and includes at least a nanocomposite material layer comprising a network of nanotubes modified with an elastomeric polymer; and at least one additional layer laminated with the nanocomposite material layer. The number of nanocomposite layers and additional layers, the nature and composition thereof, may be varied in a surface direction and/or a thickness direction so as to provide tailored mechanical and physico-chemical properties to a resulting skin that can be used to produce morphing or deployable structures.