Nanotech provides Nelson with an edge over two old opponents

HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar and launched 258 years ago, is the world’s oldest naval vessel still in commission. However, an alliance of fungus and the deathwatch beetle are proving a greater threat to its survival than the French and Spanish fleets.

Rainwater in its timbers leads to the spread of fungus which attracts the beetle. Their longevity (13 years on average) ensures affected wood will be threatened by the lengthy tunnels made by the beetle and its larvae.

Now the University of Southampton engineering consultancy and the National Museum of the Royal Navy are tapping into the latest advances in materials science to preserve the ship at its Portsmouth dry dock.

Their plan is to infuse new oak wood timbers used on the ship with nanoparticles to block fungal growth and chart how the infused wood might interact with other materials used for conservation. 

National Museum of the Royal Navy head of conservation Diana Davis explained: “We’re undertaking a 10-year programme to replace the external and internal planking, to ensure that HMS Victory is weathertight. It’s crucial for us to take an evidence-based approach when selecting the best materials for this, and nC2's research is pivotal.” 

After the museum’s research identified the potential for nanoparticles, the Southampton team is investigating how the treatment interacts with materials such as glues, paints, sealants, and metal fasteners

Senior nC² consultant Rachel Triggs commented: “There aren’t technical standards out there for assessing how nanoparticles behave in a very old, wooden warship. So, we created bespoke tests to simulate the environment that HMS Victory is exposed to, to make sure that we are getting an accurate picture of how these particles behave alongside the other materials present. 

“The results have been surprising, with some of the materials in contact with the nanoparticle-treated wood behaving in a way that we had not predicted.” 

Mechanical engineer at the University of Southampton’s µ-VIS X-ray imaging centre Dr Fernando Alvarez-Borges, was recruited to investigate how metal fastenings reacted when applied to nanoparticle-treated wood. 

He said: “I have visited Portsmouth many times and it’s been incredible to see our work being put into practice. You can walk around HMS Victory and see the maintenance work taking place, and it’s really rewarding knowing that our research is behind that.” 

For more about the conservation project, click here.