Center for High Performance Polymeric Adhesives and Composites

该奖项授予弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学(VPI&amp；Su)，建立了高性能聚合物胶粘剂和复合材料科学技术中心。该中心主任是詹姆斯·E·麦格拉思教授。高性能聚合物粘结剂和复合材料中心通过研究这些新材料的合成和表征、加工(粘结剂的发展和复合材料的制备)、界面现象(基础表面科学问题和摩擦学)和复合材料结构的力学行为来关注这些新材料的性能。这些主要领域的整合旨在允许在重大科学问题上进行协调一致的攻击，目标是为开发具有优越性能或制造特征的改进材料提供基础。来自化学、化学工程、工程科学与机械和机械工程四个学术部门的约20名高级研究人员参加了该中心的活动。化学家、工程师和材料科学家在该中心通力合作，开发了解和预测粘接和复合材料系统性能的方法。一个主要的目标是在聚合物体系中的分子、界面和微观机械现象与它们的宏观机械性能之间提供联系。目前的重点是用于复合材料的新型热塑性基体材料，这种材料有可能提供更好的性能，并促进复合材料的自动化生产。寻求力学性能、界面化学和微观结构之间的定量关系，以处理粘结材料的失效和断裂，并预测其性能。与工业界和包括少数族裔机构在内的其他学院和大学的积极外联方案是该中心活动的重要组成部分。

This award to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU) establishes a Science and Technology Center for High-Performance Polymeric Adhesives and Composites. The Director of the Center is Professor James E. McGrath. The Center for High-Performance Polymeric Adhesives and Composites focussess on the performance of these new materials by investigations into synthesis and characterization, processing (the development of adhesive bonds and the preparation of composites), interfacial phenomena (both fundamental surface science issues and tribology), and mechanical behavior of the composite structures. The integration of these major areas is designed to permit a concerted attack on major scientific problems, the goal being to provide the basis for developing improved materials with superior performance or manufacturing characteristics. Approximately 20 senior researchers from four academic departments at VPI&SU - namely Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, and Mechanical Engineering - participate in the Center activities. Chemists, engineers, and materials scientists work collaboratively in the Center to develop methods to understand and predict the performance of adhesively bonded and composite systems. A major goal is to provide a connection among molecular, interfacial, and micromechanical phenomena in polymeric systems and their macroscopic mechanical properties. Emphasis is being placed on new types of thermoplastic matrix materials for composites, which have the potential of providing better properties and facilitating the automated production of composites. Quantitative relationships between mechanical properties, interfacial chemistry and microstructure are sought to deal with the failure and fracture of adhesively bonded materials and predict their performance. Vigorous outreach programs with industry and with other colleges and universities, including minority institutions, form an important part of the Center's activities.