Metal rubber

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Metal rubber is a broad, informal name for several conductive plastic polymers with metal ions produced by NanoSonic Inc. in cooperation with Virginia Tech. This self-assembling nanocomposite is flexible and durable to high and low pressures, temperatures, tensions, and most chemical reactions, and retains all of its physical and chemical properties upon being returned to a ground state. NanoSonic’s Metal rubber™ is an electrically conductive and flexible elastomer. It can be mechanically strained to greater than 1000% of its original dimensions while remaining electrically conductive. As Metal rubber can carry data and electrical power and is environmentally rugged, it can be used as a flexible and stretchable electrical conductor in the aerospace/defense, electronics, and bioengineering markets. [1]

Contents

Properties

Metal rubber needs to contain around 1% metal ions to maintain its conductive properties, allowing the material to retain an elastic quality as well as keeping the heavy metal component low. Metal rubber has a strain of 300% although the sheet itself can be mechanically strained to greater than 1000% of its original dimensions. The elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa and the service resistivity per square sheet is .1–100 ohms. The maximum service temperature is 170 degrees Celsius (338 degrees Fahrenheit), while the minimum service temperature is –60 degrees Celsius (–76 degrees Fahrenheit). It carries an electrical charge that can be used to transport power and data. It is typical of an elastomer to be an insulator but Metal rubber is highly conductive like metals. [1]

Applications

Metal rubber is made through a modified molecular-level self-assembly production process using precursors which NanoSonic produces in-house. Materials are manufactured in a variety of sizes and geometries. The possible uses of such a product include body armor, durable electronic sensors, various aerospace-building materials, and alternate commercial building materials. Several industries have unique needs that are met by Metal rubber's characteristics. [2]

1. Aerospace/Defense

Robust under harsh conditions (high and low temperature/pressure).

2. Electronics

Stretchable electrical conductors/sensors.

3. Bioengineering Markets

Flexible with no corrosion. Useful for joint replacement instead of heavy metal implants.
The thicker dimensions of the Metal rubber can be used for artificial muscles because of the flexibility and conductive properties for bio-electrical signals.

Current products

NanoSonic currently offers a variety of products that incorporates Metal rubber's unique properties. [3] [4]

1. Metal rubber Cables

This product can be used to replace heavy metal power and data cables as well as make conductive fabrics and CNTs. Also used in lightweight EMI shielding and can be used as an elastomer cover for hoses and tubing.

2. Metal rubber Shielding

Based on nanostructured Metal rubber and carbon nanotubes, it is lightweight, environmentally durable and allows radio wave frequency selection and broadband connection.

3. Metal rubber Sensors

Allows for shear force and pressure sensors in addition to water and wind tunnel analysis at moderate/high air pressure.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cryogenics</span> Study of the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures

In physics, cryogenics is the production and behaviour of materials at very low temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulcanization</span> Process of hardening rubber

Vulcanization is a range of processes for hardening rubbers. The term originally referred exclusively to the treatment of natural rubber with sulfur, which remains the most common practice. It has also grown to include the hardening of other (synthetic) rubbers via various means. Examples include silicone rubber via room temperature vulcanizing and chloroprene rubber (neoprene) using metal oxides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elastomer</span> Polymer with rubber-like elastic properties

An elastomer is a polymer with viscoelasticity and with weak intermolecular forces, generally low Young's modulus and high failure strain compared with other materials. The term, a portmanteau of elastic polymer, is often used interchangeably with rubber, although the latter is preferred when referring to vulcanisates. Each of the monomers which link to form the polymer is usually a compound of several elements among carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and silicon. Elastomers are amorphous polymers maintained above their glass transition temperature, so that considerable molecular reconformation, without breaking of covalent bonds, is feasible. At ambient temperatures, such rubbers are thus relatively compliant and deformable. Their primary uses are for seals, adhesives and molded flexible parts. Application areas for different types of rubber are manifold and cover segments as diverse as tires, soles for shoes, and damping and insulating elements. The importance of these rubbers can be judged from the fact that global revenues are forecast to rise to US$56 billion in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O-ring</span> Mechanical, toroid gasket that seals an interface

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power cable</span> Bundle of wires for transmitting electricity

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electroactive polymer</span>

An electroactive polymer (EAP) is a polymer that exhibits a change in size or shape when stimulated by an electric field. The most common applications of this type of material are in actuators and sensors. A typical characteristic property of an EAP is that they will undergo a large amount of deformation while sustaining large forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EPDM rubber</span> Type of synthetic rubber

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot-melt adhesive</span> Glue applied by heating

Hot-melt adhesive (HMA), also known as hot glue, is a form of thermoplastic adhesive that is commonly sold as solid cylindrical sticks of various diameters designed to be applied using a hot glue gun. The gun uses a continuous-duty heating element to melt the plastic glue, which the user pushes through the gun either with a mechanical trigger mechanism on the gun, or with direct finger pressure. The glue squeezed out of the heated nozzle is initially hot enough to burn and even blister skin. The glue is sticky when hot, and solidifies in a few seconds to one minute. Hot-melt adhesives can also be applied by dipping or spraying, and are popular with hobbyists and crafters both for affixing and as an inexpensive alternative to resin casting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silicone rubber</span> Elastomer

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Vibration isolation is the process of isolating an object, such as a piece of equipment, from the source of vibrations.

Injection molding of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is a process to produce pliable, durable parts in high volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potential applications of carbon nanotubes</span>

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylinders of one or more layers of graphene (lattice). Diameters of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are typically 0.8 to 2 nm and 5 to 20 nm, respectively, although MWNT diameters can exceed 100 nm. CNT lengths range from less than 100 nm to 0.5 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dielectric elastomers</span>

Dielectric elastomers (DEs) are smart material systems that produce large strains. They belong to the group of electroactive polymers (EAP). DE actuators (DEA) transform electric energy into mechanical work. They are lightweight and have a high elastic energy density. They have been investigated since the late 1990s. Many prototype applications exist. Every year, conferences are held in the US and Europe.

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A zinc oxide nanorod sensor or ZnO nanorod sensor is an electronic or optical device detecting presence of certain gas or liquid molecules in the ambient atmosphere. The sensor exploits enhanced surface area intrinsic to all nano-sized materials, including ZnO nanorods. Adsorption of molecules on the nanorods can be detected through variation of the nanorods' properties, such as photoluminescence, electrical conductivity, vibration frequency, mass, etc. The simplest and thus most popular way is to pass electrical current through the nanorods and observe its changes upon exposure to gas. Synthesis can be obtained by a hydrothermal method using 1:1 Molar solution of hexamine and Zinc nitrate solution kept together for 56 hours in an autoclave at 60-70 degree Celsius.

Quantum tunnelling composites (QTCs) are composite materials of metals and non-conducting elastomeric binder, used as pressure sensors. They use quantum tunnelling: without pressure, the conductive elements are too far apart to conduct electricity; when pressure is applied, they move closer and electrons can tunnel through the insulator. The effect is far more pronounced than would be expected from classical (non-quantum) effects alone, as classical electrical resistance is linear (proportional to distance), while quantum tunnelling is exponential with decreasing distance, allowing the resistance to change by a factor of up to 1012 between pressured and unpressured states.

Electronic skin refers to flexible, stretchable and self-healing electronics that are able to mimic functionalities of human or animal skin. The broad class of materials often contain sensing abilities that are intended to reproduce the capabilities of human skin to respond to environmental factors such as changes in heat and pressure.

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A conductive elastomer is a form of elastomer, often natural rubber or other rubber substitute, that is manufactured to conduct electricity. This is commonly accomplished by distributing carbon or other conductive particles throughout the raw material prior to setting it. Carbon black and silica are common additives to induce conductivity in elastomers. Silica has been studied more so than other additives due to its low cost however, its conductance is also lower. These additives can not only enable conductance but can increase the mechanical properties of the elastomer.

A stretch sensor is a sensor which can be used to measure deformation and stretching forces such as tension or bending. They are usually made from a material that is itself soft and stretchable.

References

  1. 1 2 Lalli, Jennifer & Claus, Richard & Hill, Andrea & Mecham, Jeffrey & Davis, Bradley & Subramanayan, Sumitra & Goff, R.. (2005). Commercial applications of Metal rubber (TM). Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering. 5762. 10.1117/12.606788.
  2. "Metal rubber - ExtremeTech". www.extremetech.com. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  3. "Metal rubber". prezi.com. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  4. "Lightweight Metal rubber Wire and Cable for Space Power Systems | SBIR.gov". www.sbir.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-23.