This paper reviews the potential of polymer and ceramic matrix composites for aerospace/space vehicle applications. Special, unique and multifunctional properties arising due to the dispersion of nanoparticles in ceramic and metal matrix are briefly discussed followed by a classification of resulting aerospace applications. The paper presents polymer matrix composites comprising majority of aer...

The present work was focused on obtaining biocide coatings constituted by a glassy soda-lime matrix containing silver or copper nanoparticles on ceramic (alumina and zirconia based) substrates. Both glassy coatings showed a high biocide activity against Gram-, Gram+ bacteria and yeast, reducing cell numbers more than three logarithms. Silver nanoparticles had a significantly higher biocide acti...

This work describes a wet-processing route based on spray-freezing and subsequent lyophilization designed to obtain nanostructured ceramic/metal powders. Starting from the ceramic powder and the corresponding metal salt, a water-based suspension is sprayed on liquid nitrogen. The frozen powders are subsequently freeze-dried, calcined and reduced. The material was analyzed using X-ray diffractio...

Nano-sized particles of ceramic and metallic materials are generated by high-tech industrial activities, and can be generated from worn-out replacement and prosthetic implants. The interaction with the human body of such nanoparticles has been investigated, with a particular emphasis on innate defence mechanisms. Human macrophages (PMA-differentiated myelomonocytic U-937 cells) were exposed in ...

Solid-state electrolytes provide substantial improvements to safety and electrochemical stability in lithium-ion batteries when compared with conventional liquid electrolytes, which makes them a promising alternative technology for next-generation high-energy batteries. Currently, the low mobility of lithium ions in solid electrolytes limits their practical application. The ongoing research ove...

Composite scaffolds consisting of polymers reinforced with ceramic nanoparticles are widely applied for hard tissue engineering. However, due to the incompatible polarity of ceramic nanoparticles with polymers, they tend to agglomerate in the polymer matrix which results in undesirable effects on the integral properties of composites. In this research, forsterite (Mg2SiO4) nanoparticles was sur...

High temperature ceramics with porosity on multiple length scales offer great promise in high temperature catalytic applications for their high surface area and low flow resistance in combination with thermal and chemical stability. We have developed a bottom-up approach to functional, porous, high-temperature ceramics structured on eight distinct length scales integrating functional Pt nanopar...

Applications of mica-based pearlescent pigments are related to plastics, cosmetics, automobiles coatings among others, but they seem to be not explored by the ceramic industry. In this work, intensively red and gold colored muscovite pigments covered with layer of nanoparticles containing iron and zirconium oxides were prepared by homogeneous precipitation. The final color was obtained after th...

Particles are important additives for altering and enhancing the properties of polymers. When the particle size approaching the fundamental length scale of the material, new mechanical, optical, and electrical properties arise, which are not present in the conventional macroscopic counterpart. For example, the dielectric constant of a polymer fluid can be increased by addition of ceramic nanopa...

Lithium-based rechargeable batteries offer superior specific energy and power, and have enabled exponential growth in industries focused on small electronic devices. However, further increases in energy density, for example for electric transportation, face the challenge of harnessing the lithium metal as negative electrode instead of limited-capacity graphite and its heavy copper current colle...