Researchers who enriched polyurethane glue with "tungsten sulfide nanotubes" particles developed by Prof. Reshef Tana from the Weizmann Institute were able to change the internal structure of the glue and produce a glue 10 times stronger
A blue-and-white development by the researchers of the plastics engineering department at Schenker is expected to bring about a revolution in the automotive industry: researchers who enriched polyurethane adhesive with "tungsten sulfide nanotubes" particles developed by Prof. Rashef Tana from the Weizmann Institute succeeded in changing the internal structure of the adhesive and producing an adhesive 10 times stronger
Research student Or Kriv, under the guidance of Prof. Hana Dodiuk and Prof. Shmuel Koenig, from the Department of Plastics and Polymer Engineering at "Shanker Engineering", used nanotechnological methods and managed to prepare a polyurethane adhesive 10 times stronger than the polyurethane adhesives currently in use, by adding one percent of "nano "Tungsten sulfide" tubes for glue, which is currently used mainly in the automotive industry.
The development, which will yield more durable cars in the future, was presented at the 4.2.2013th International Conference on Nanotechnology in the Plastics and Polymers Industry held in Shankar on February XNUMX, XNUMX.
"The basis for the development is actually the nanoparticles developed by Prof. Rashef Tana from the Weizmann Institute, nanotubes based on tungsten sulfide. Their advantage is that they are designed to lower friction coefficients. They replace liquid lubricants where liquids are difficult to use. The particles are already in mass production and are sold as a solid lubricant - produced by Nano Materials, an Israeli company. The nano - tungsten - sulphide tubes reduce the coefficients of friction by more than half." Prof. Hana Dodiuk, head of the plastic and polymer engineering department at Shankar, explains.
"The desire was to develop a stronger and more wear-resistant adhesive, and the question was how to insert the nano particles into the polyarothene so that there is an optimal dosage and the material remains dispersed and does not re-unite into a lump. It turned out that the optimal dose is between half a percent and one percent - above that, the addition spoils the glue, because the particles begin to accumulate and coalesce. The low concentration enables economic production. The production process developed in experiments conducted over a year is based on mixing in a mixer at a controlled temperature and a special treatment for the surface of the particle to obtain a chemical connection to the polyarothene," explains Dodiuk.
At Schenker, it was decided not to issue a patent in order to preserve the knowledge of the joint project between Schenker and the Weizmann Institute.
Just last year, a similar achievement was noted in Shanker, when research student Mark Schneider from the Department of Plastics and Polymer Engineering used spherical tungsten-sulfide nanoparticles, which were also developed by Prof. Tana, and succeeded in preparing an epoxy glue, which was twice as strong, using a similar method.
"Nanotechnology is in a historic period, of transition from the laboratory phase to the commercial phase of industrial production" says Prof. Shmuel Koenig, Head of the Faculty of Engineering at Shankar "The future is created in laboratories, step by step, dozens and hundreds of innovative developments conducted in recent years will reach the field and change the lives of millions Around the world"
