Investigation of Drying Mechanisms

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The research deals with the drying and curing mechanisms, ultimately in complex bicontinuous materials like sol-gel and certain polymer blends. An objective is a mathematical mechanistic description that accounts for stress states that arise, and what determines defect formation. Drying rates and moisture or solvent distributions are observed experimentally. Moisture distributions are measured. Stresses are measured. After the work on mathematical theory and testing, the results are applied to design, optimization, and control drying and curing processes for coatings. Finally simplification of the theory results in more easily applied design equations. This project is one supported under the Creativity Awards for Undergraduate Engineering Students.