Pioneering research in a multi-disciplinary field
In recent years nanotechnology has demonstrated its utility as a science capable of providing commercial solutions to a variety of industrial challenges. Nanotechnology is an enabling technology, capable of influencing many scientific and industrial disciplines by providing high quality and cost effective insight. The Nanotechnology – Advanced Materials Program was initiated to strengthen KISR’s matrixing strategy and enhance multi-disciplinary collaboration by providing unique insight on the application of nano-scale materials. The program plays an important role at KISR by contributing to the design, modeling, synthesizing and developing of pioneering nanostructured and advanced materials.
AWARDED PATENTS FOR NANOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
Original research with novel results
This past year Prof. Dr. M. Sherif El-Eskandarany, Program Manager of NAM, was awarded two patents as a result of the research he has conducted at KISR. The first patent, Composition for Hydrogen Storage, shows promise as an application for improving hydrogen batteries. The second patent, Method for Synthesizing Nanodiamonds, shows promise for use in medical and drug delivery applications.
SYNTHESIZING NOVEL NANOCOMPOSITE POWDERS REINFORCED WITH CARBON NANOTUBES TO EXTEND THE OPERATING LIFE OF GATE VALVES IN PETROLEUM AND WATER SECTORS
Enhancing the integrity of infrastructure systems
For this project, mechanically-induced solid state reactions, using high-energy ball milling techniques, were successfully employed to synthesize nanocrystalline table salt-type TiC powders from metallic Ti and C powders under 1 bar of argon gas atmosphere. As a result, a number of nanocomposite powders were developed and demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, high values of hardness, toughness, wear, and corrosion resistance. The technology shows promise for a number of applications where improved corrosion resistance will improve the performance and integrity of infrastructure systems.