Nanoforce has been involved in a large number of activities in the development of advanced polymers and composites which include:

• Polymer nanocomposites. Is a relatively new and high impact field in composites, allowing unique properties to be achieved often at very low filler loading. These include electrical and thermal conductivity and gas barrier properties using nanofillers such as carbon nanotubes and nanoclays
• Highly oriented fibres/ tapes. Polyethylene is used in commodity application such as milk bottles and grocery bags, however when suitably stretched (oriented) the same polymer can be used as a ballistic fibre to stop bullets. Nanoforce has a wealth of experience in orienting many kinds of synthetic and biopolymers
• Functional packaging to pack goods from food to electronics offers a significant technical challenge. Shielding, gas penetration, gas scavenging and recyclability are a few requirements of packaging. Nanoforce has a pilot size 3 layer film blowing line, allowing the trialling of films with a functional gradient, e.g. one layer could be a water barrier while another could be an oxygen scavenger
• Electrospinning for the generation of a non woven fibre mat from polymer solutions. The fibres have very small dimensions, typically into the nanometre range. This allows the exploitation of the unique surface properties of polymers. These fibre mats can be used for filtration of very fine particulates and can include other additives such as silver for antimicrobial action.

Nanoforce has built up various capabilities in polymer processing which can be divided into in two large groups:

1.Structural and sustainable polymer systems

Natural fibre composites

Wood fibre plastics

Biodegradable plastics

Bio-based composites

Bacterial cellulose

Resin-free cellulose materials

All-cellulose composites

All-polymer composites

All-aramid composites

Composites for anti ballistic

2. Multi-functional polymer systems

Carbon nanotube composites

Elastomeric sensors based on carbon nanotubes

Conductive polymer fibres

High strength polymer nanocomposite fibres

Fire retardant nanocomposites

Surface relief structures

Cholesteric coatings

Electrospun nanofibres

Polymeric encapsulation

Compound development

Microstructure development

Mesostructure development

Hierarchically engineered structure

Macrostructure development