Project description
Probing the dynamics of dense nanosuspensions far from equilibrium
Nanoparticle additives are highly efficient in controlling fluid properties, and thus they are extensively used in home care products, food industry, and in ink and paint formulations. In addition, they facilitate the design of functional materials and are very promising drug carriers. Unlike their dense counterparts, dilute suspensions of nanoparticles have been the subject of detailed studies. However, in certain applications suspensions are dense and experience significant external stresses. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme, the nanoPaInt project aims to investigate the behaviour of dense out-of-equilibrium nanosuspensions which remains poorly explored until now.
Objective
Nanoparticles serve as additives for controlling the liquid properties. They are
extensively applied in food industry and home care products, they are the essential part of ink and paint formulations and of
coatings, they are used for manufacturing of functional materials and are very promising drug carriers. The presence of nanoparticles
in air or in water can influence the Earth ecology and human health. Although dilute suspensions of nanoparticles which are close to
equilibrium have been extensively studied, in many important applications, such as food industry and printing, the suspensions are
dense, or strongly interacting, they experience significant external stress and are far from equilibrium. A fundamental understanding
of interaction between nanoparticles in liquid bulk and at interfaces, allowing to effectively use particulate systems in these
applications, has not yet been achieved. The aim of the NanoPaInt network is understanding, predictive modelling and application
of the strongly interacting nanoparticle-laden systems out of equilibrium. The specific objectives are: understanding strong
interactions between the nanoparticles and their effect on the rheological properties of suspensions; understanding the behavior of
nanoparticles in complex interfacial flows under strong external forces and with wetting and dewetting; design and applications of
smart capillary nanosuspensions; drying of nanosuspensions towards assembly and fabrication of functional superparticulate
systems. The training aim of NanoPaInt network is to support the career development of young researchers both in academic and
non-academic sectors and to train a new generation of creative, mobile, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers
(ESRs) through the experience of independent and interdisciplinary research, participation at local and network-wide training
activities and intersectorial and international secondments.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Coordinator
64289 Darmstadt
Germany