GOALI: Mechanical and Molecular Behavior of Nanoparticulate/Polymer Composites

最近的研究表明，纳米颗粒填料可以同时提高聚合物复合材料的模量、破坏应变和强度。这在微米大小的填充系统中没有观察到。本提案有两个目标：1)创建和研究用于工程应用的新型纳米填料/聚合物复合材料；2)通过了解颗粒分散、颗粒结构和表面化学以及聚合物链刚度对结合聚合物层尺寸和机械性能的影响，对它们的结构-性能关系有一个基本的了解。采用气体冷凝法合成纳米颗粒填料。通过这种方法，可以合成各种尺寸（直径）在5-50纳米范围内的金属、陶瓷和复合纳米颗粒。此外，纳米颗粒可以被涂覆以修饰其表面。纳米填料/聚合物复合材料将使用弹性体、热塑性塑料和热固性材料制备。显微结构表征将使用各种技术，如透射电镜，扫描电镜和x射线衍射。纳米颗粒对周围聚合物区域的影响将用于在更宏观的尺度上证实核磁共振观察结果。微拉曼光谱将用于了解微（纳米）力学行为。将这些新型复合材料的力学性能与现有的纤维和颗粒填充复合材料进行比较。本研究与高模量、高强度高分子复合材料的制备有关。纳米复合材料的制造和测试研究将补充RPI关于纳米材料的教育倡议。该项目是根据NSF 98-20“纳米技术合作：功能纳米结构（FNS）的合成、加工和利用”提交的提案。

Abstract 9871894, Schadler/RPI Recent work has shown that the modulus, strain to failure, and strength of polymer composites can be increased simultaneously with nanosized particle filler. This is not observed in micron sized filled systems. This proposal has dual objectives: 1) to create and investigate novel nanofiller/polymer composites for engineering application sand 2) to develop a fundamental understanding of their structure-property relationships through understanding the effects of particle dispersion, particle structure and surface chemistry, and polymer chain stiffness on the size of the bound polymer layer and on the mechanical properties. Nanoparticle fillers will be synthesized using the gas condensation method. A wide range of metal, ceramic, and composite nanoparticles will be synthesized in the size (diameter) range of 5-50 nm by this method. In addition, the nanoparticles can be coated to modify their surfaces. Nanofiller/polymer composites will be prepared using elastomers, thermoplastics, and thermosets. Microstructural characterization will be done using a variety of techniques such as TEM, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The effect of the nanoparticle on the surrounding polymer region will be used to confirm the NMR observations on a more macroscopic scale. Micro-Raman spectroscopy will be used to gain an understanding of the micro(nano)mechanical behavior. The measured mechanical properties of these new composites will be compared with those of existing fiber and particle filled composites. This research is relevant to fabrication of high modulus, high strength polymer composites. Research on the fabrication and testing of nanocomposites will complement an educational initiative at RPI on nanomaterials. This project results from a proposal submitted in response to NSF 98-20, Partnership in Nanotechnology: Synthesis, Processing, and Utilization of Functional Nanostructures (FNS).