New UK group launched to provide advice on nano-enhanced materials

Research Lead

The UK’s government-funded Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network has launched the HiPerNano Focus Group to raise awareness and provide advice on nano-enhanced materials for the high performance engineering industry.

Members of the HiPerNano group have the opportunity to discuss materials challenges and developments with end-users and industry professionals. Such nanomaterials are beginning to have a major commercial impact and the aim is to build a UK community where aerospace, defence, security, power generation and automotive industries can discuss their use in components that are subjected to extreme environments, such as high temperature, friction, corrosion, erosion and ballistic impact.

Martin Kemp who is responsible for the initiative said, “Our aim is to enable the high performance engineering industry to realise the commercial potential and advantages of introducing nanomaterials that were, until just a few years ago, laboratory curiosities.”

“To get nanomaterials into the market place we need to create new kinds of supply chains and these have to be generated by market pull, hence the decision to create the HiPerNano Sector Focus Group whereby end-users can pose their commercial challenges and hear the latest success stories from their peers.”

At the inaugural meeting last month, targets were set for stimulating the supply chain in the UK. The steering group initiated a survey to identify problems which could be addressed by nano-enhanced materials.

Since nano-enhancement could be realised at multiple points in a supply chain, businesses from raw materials suppliers, to materials converters, component manufacturers, OEMs and end users are invited to join.