Researchers create family of composite materials Published Nov. 1, 2007 By Maria Callier Air Force Office of Scientific Research Public Affairs ARLINGTON, Va. (AFPN) -- Scientists funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have constructed an entirely new class of materials that potentially could aid Air Force missions. Dr. David Avnir, Head of the Institute of Chemistry at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, led scientists to a surprising outcome in their initial research. "It's incredibly difficult this day and age to create new materials with dramatically different properties," Dr. Avnir said. "The idea of combining organic molecules with metals really opens the door to some exciting possibilities, and the range of preparation methods means there's a greater chance we can find useful end applications for Air Force missions." According to Maj. Jennifer Gresham, an AFOSR program manager who oversees Dr. Avnir's work, the two biggest possibilities are corrosion resistance and improved catalysis for fuel cells. Preliminary indications suggest that the new metallic composites show improved corrosion resistance. According to researchers, that finding is significant because metals corrosion is a persistent problem for military and industry, amounting to 3 to 5 percent of the gross national product of the industrialized nations. In the United States, that amounts to $280 billion annually. The physical alterations of metal properties, along with the formation of new metallic catalysts with superior performance to accelerate industrial processes, are among the demonstrated useful applications. Silver and copper composites also have antibacterial properties, which would be helpful in compartments requiring long duration sterility such as planes and space stations and in emergency medical treatments. The challenge was for Dr. Avnir and his team to devise methods in which the metal is prepared at temperatures compatible with the organic molecules that are trapped. "The AFOSR-funded research enabled us to develop and offer four different laboratory methods of carrying out just that, and these have been applied to copper, silver, cobalt, gold and palladium," he said. Through support of research projects such as the one led by Dr. Avnir, AFOSR continues to expand the horizon of scientific knowledge through leadership and management of the Air Force's basic research program. As a component of the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFOSR supports the Air Force mission of control and maximum utilization of air and space. Many of the technologies enjoyed by millions today, such as lasers, global positioning system, and the computer mouse trace their origin to scientific breakthroughs, due in whole or in part, to research first funded by AFOSR. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page