9860273<br/> This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes a nanostructural fabrication process for the production of high strength, lightweight metal-polymer nanolaminate materials. A patented ultra high<br/>speed polymer deposition process allows the formation of large area laminates with thousands of nanosize<br/>metal and polymer layers. The polymer materials have high thermal and mechanical stability, and the metal<br/>layers can be any of several materials, including Al, Ti, Ni, steel and SS. The proposed investigation will<br/>systematically explore the limits of this new process with particular focus on the mechanical material<br/>properties. In the Phase I work, lightweight materials such as Al will be processed into nanolaminate<br/>composites and the effects of metal layer thickness and metal/polymer thickness ratio will be compared to<br/>basic bulk material properties. The Phase II work will seek further optimization and in-depth testing of<br/>materials for specific industrial applications.<br/> High strength, lightweight polymer-metal multi-layer composites may have a range of applications that<br/>includes lightweight structural component for industrial, civil, and aeronautical applications, automotive<br/>parts and electrical and electronic applications.