The document provides information about the Centre for Automotive Technology (CAT) at Cranfield University in the UK. CAT conducts research in areas like motorsport, off-road vehicle dynamics, materials including nanotechnology. It has specialist facilities for testing vehicles and materials. The centre also performs nanosafety research to simulate and study the release of nanoparticles from products. It is developing nanocomposites and nanopigments for industrial applications like lightweight vehicle components.

1. Centre for Automotive
Technology
Nanotechnology research for
the development of advanced
materials
www.cranfield.ac.uk/automotive
Contact
For further information please contact:
School of Aerospace, Transport and
Manufacturing
Centre for Automotive Technology
Building 61
Cranfied University
Cranfield
Bedforshire MK43 0AL, UK
Telephone: +44 (0) 1234 754108
Email: j.l.brighton@cranfield.ac.uk
v.marchanterodriguez@cranfield.ac.uk
h.a.abhyankar@cranfield.ac.uk
About Cranfield University
Cranfield University is a wholly postgraduate university with
an international community and a truly global reputation.
Ranked first in the UK for staff to student ratios and with a
top five ranking for student employment on graduation, an
excellent rating for teaching, and exceptional facilities,
Cranfield makes an ideal destination for advancing
careers. All courses are designed to meet the training
needs of industry and have a strong input from experts in
their sector. Our focus is on applied research and
developing industry’s future engineers, managers,
consultants, and entrepreneurs.
Facilities
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road vehicle research facility, which won the Ford European
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vehicle dynamics work for all vehicle sectors. This includes
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road vehicle performance in a high controlled environment from
a single tyre to whole vehicles.
We have invested heavily in composite laboratories and
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from commercial product. We are able to design and build
prototypes and to validate methodologies. Some of the
equipment we operate includes:
 High Speed Camera
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 High and Low Speed Gas Gun and Thermal Chamber
 Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
 Composite Manufacturing Lab
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2. Centre for Automotive Technology
Nanotechnology
The Centre
Cranfield’s Centre for Automotive Technology (CAT)
conducts leading research that focuses on supporting
industry in the key areas of motorsport and off-road
dynamics. Focusing on the end-user and Life-cycle
interactions with the environment, our research capabilities
are based on advanced technologies and tools.
In addition, we also undertake research in the materials and
nanotechnology field. Other areas of expertise in this field are
outlined in this brochure.
Nanosafety
CAT was a member of the consortium in the FP7 Project
NEPHH - Nanomaterials Related Environmental Pollution and
Health Hazards Throughout Their Life-cycle (http://
www.nephh-fp7.eu). The main objective of this project was
to identify and rate important forms of environmental
pollution and health hazards that could result from activities
involved in the life-cycle of silicon-based polymer
nanocomposites. CAT developed a lab protocol for the
generation, size analysis and collection of dust from
nanocomposite samples.
The European LIFE Project SIRENA - Simulation of the Release
of Nanomaterials from Consumer Products for Environmental
Exposure Assessment (http://www.life-sirena.com) is the
continuation of NEPHH. SIRENA aims to improve
understanding of risks associated with nanomaterials through
the demonstration and testing of a methodology to simulate
the unintended release of nanomaterials from consumer
products. In this project, CAT is leading the pilot experiences
for simulating the release of nanoparticles. Using the results
and experience gained in NEPHH, we have developed new
prototypes for dust generation from polymer nanocomposite
samples:
Advanced Process Simulation Apparatus (APSA)
This system consists of a CNC machine
controlled externally by software, a
chamber with a recirculating air
cleaning system and a scan mobility
particle sizer with particle counter
(SMPS+C).
Advanced Simulation of Impact
System (ASIS)
This prototype is focused on the
generation of dust as a result of an
impact. It consists of a chamber with
recirculating air cleaning system, a
drop tower and SMPS+C.
These new prototypes allow to have a
precise control of the process
parameters (spindle spin, feed rate,
shape of striker, energy load in impact,
etc.), and of the conditions inside the
chamber (clean air, positive pressure,
etc.). With these automatic systems, we pursue increasing
the reproducibility of the experiments. This methodology
can be extended and adapted to study the nanosafety of
any material.
Nanomaterials development
Nanopigments for industrial applications
The Centre has the specialist infrastructure required to
produce and characterise nanocomposites, and to
analyse their performance.
For example, we are developing a ternary nanocomposite
for reducing the weight of vehicle components, and thus,
reducing the consumption and CO2 emissions. We are
producing at lab scale Polyamide 66/glass fibre
composites reinforced with nanofillers (montmorillonte and
nanosilica). This ternary nanocomposite is used to produce
coupons to evaluate the mechanical properties (tensile,
flexure, impact, compression, etc.). Knowing these
properties, the performance of this material in the
component can be model.led Finite element analysis (FEA)
is conducted to assess if the component passes all the
design requirements.
Hybrid pigments based
on nanoclays and
organic dyes are a
promising alternative to
conventional pigments.
They can act as
reinforcement additives
and as colorants when
added in low quantities
(0.1-5%weight). At CAT
we have the expertise and capability to tailor these
nanopigments according to the specific application
(polymers, paints, etc.) and functionalise them. We are
looking for collaboration to expand the range of applications
of these nanopigments.
In this case, the objective is to design an oil pan for an engine