CUMI and ideaForge to develop nanomaterial reinforced products for drones

By OEM Update Editorial August 17, 2023 5:47 pm IST

CUMI and ideaForge Technology are collaborating to develop innovative nanomaterial reinforced structures to make drones lighter, stronger, smaller, and more durable.

Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), a pioneering organisation in the field of material sciences and part of the 120-year-old Murugappa Group collaborated with ideaForge Technology, India’s leading drone maker, to jointly develop cutting-edge nanomaterial reinforced composite parts for drones.

Nanomaterial-reinforced composite materials (such as graphene-reinforced polymers) hold the promise of transforming structural parts for aerospace applications. They offer several improvements in physical properties over standard composite materials which can include higher mechanical strength, greater toughness and stiffness, better electrical and thermal conductivity, superior fire retardancy and higher barrier to moisture and gases. Nanocomposites also offer unique design possibilities, which offer immense potential in creating materials with desired properties for specific applications. The use of the appropriate nanomaterials can help build drones that are smaller, lighter, stronger, and more durable, among others.

Speaking about the collaboration with CUMI, Sunil Jha, Sr Director of Engineering, ideaForge Technology said, “The use of nanomaterial reinforced composites in drones offers several exciting possibilities such as higher specific modulus or strength and is likely to shape the future of airframe and related structural components of drones. We are excited to partner with CUMI, which has done some pioneering and innovative work in the field of material science over the years.”

Subbu Venkatachalam, Head of Marketing, Carborundum Universal Limited, said, “ideaForge has done pioneering work in advancing drone technologies and building its position as the leader in the Indian unmanned aerial vehicles market. I am confident that with the deep expertise we have built in the field of materials, this partnership will bring some significant synergies and shape the next generation of drone technologies. We look forward to an exciting and rewarding collaboration that will significantly strengthen the ‘Make in India’ movement and chart new opportunities.”

CUMI’s Composites Manufacturing Division has over five decades of experience in the design, manufacturing, and testing of composites. CUMI’s composites facility develops cutting-edge composite technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including CFRP tubes, panels, landing gears, and customised composite structural parts for drones. Its dedicated dust-proof facility to manufacture CFRP parts for UAVs has process capabilities such as vacuum infusion and vacuum bagging, Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM), Pultrusion, and Filament Winding, among others.