Interview: "PATIENCE is a KEY QUALIFICATION in RESEARCH"

High Flyer: ... The visions associated with nanotechnology in public are as breathtaking as they are utopian. What role does nanotechnology actually play in the aerospace sector? And how important could it become for EADS?

Jacques Cinquin: At the moment, nanotechnologies for structural applications in the aerospace sector are focused at the R&D level. No structural applications with these technologies are currently in service. This is a new technology that promises to deliver many wonderful properties for composite structures. If all these promises are ultimately realized, we can say that this will be the next technology to yield practical structures in future EADS activities.

High Flyer: How does nanotechnology affect your daily work?

Jacques Cinquin: Nanotechnologies are a key topic for the development of new materials in the research sector. I am involved with nanotechnology projects in my everyday work.

High Flyer: You are currently working on carbon nanotubes. Could you please explain this technology in brief? How could it improve aircraft?

Jacques Cinquin: Carbon nanotubes are obtained from a chemical vapor deposition process. A gas with a high carbon content such as methane is introduced into a reactor at a high temperature. The methane molecule is broken up and the carbon atoms react to create a tubular structure with a Cinquin strong C=C link between the atoms. The external diameter of this tubular structure is about 2 to 40 nm and its length could be up to 40?m. If there is a single tube, we call it a single-wall carbon nanotube, whereas if many tubes are embedded together we call them multi-wall carbon nanotubes. Depending on the structural organization of the carbon in the carbon nanotube, it could have very high electrical (106 S/m) and thermal (2000 W/mK) conductivity associated with very high mechanical strength (an estimated shear modulus of about 1000 GPa and an estimated strength of about 40 GPa). But all these properties are at the nano scale, and the challenge is to obtain these same properties at the scale of a structural part.

The main benefit we expect for structural aircraft parts is to increase the electrical conductivity of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite structures to solve current problems on a possible future aircraft with an all-CFRP composite structure. This will ultimately help to reduce the global mass of the aircraft structure and hence reduce its fuel consumption and the emission of chemical pollutants.

High Flyer: What are the greatest challenges of nanotechnology projects?

Jacques Cinquin: The greatest challenges are to recover at the structural part scale the properties of the nano-additives we estimate at the nano-scale as well as to obtain this technology at an affordable cost within the health and safety constraints for the operators in accordance with relevant legislation.

High Flyer: When will we see the first nano-applications in an aircraft?

Jacques Cinquin: This is a crucial question.

First we need to confirm the expected results on a lab scale, and then we need to move to the industrial production of carbon nanotube products. We can compare this development with the introduction of breakthrough materials such as aramide and carbon fibers in aerospace structures. When these fibers were completely available on an industrial scale with all the process parameters fixed and their quality assurance in place, it took another 15 years to introduce these new materials to structural applications in the aerospace sector. It could take less time for non-structural applications.

High Flyer: What key qualifications are needed by someone who aspires to make a career in nanotechnology?

Jacques Cinquin: If you want to pursue a career in the field of nanotechnology, you first need to have solid knowledge in the material sciences (chemical, physical and mechanical properties of materials) and a passion for innovation. As for all research activities, you also need to be patient and not expect the research to yield immediate results. A new field of activity often leads to unexpected applications in other areas.

High Flyer: What should students who see their professional future in nanotechnology already consider during their studies?

Jacques Cinquin: They should not forget electronics materials (semiconductors…) or materials for biological applications. We need to use nanotechnologies for phenomena which involve the nanoscale. They also need to consider the environment and the health and safety regulations, to be aware of the potential risks and how to limit these risks for the workers.

High Flyer: In general, what do you feel that it takes to make an engineer?

Jacques Cinquin: You need to understand what you are doing in order to avoid misunderstandings with your colleagues.

High Flyer: What do you like most about your job?

Jacques Cinquin: The broad range of activities, always with different new topics to address at research level. There’s no monotony in this work!