NIRT: Processing, Characterization, Scaling, and Development of Fiber-Reinforced Polymeric Nano-Matrix Composites

先进复合材料因其重量轻、强度和刚度较高而得到广泛应用。传统复合材料依靠使用宏观或微观尺度的增强剂来提高其性能和性能。通过使用纳米级增强剂和结构，单独或与宏观结构结合使用，可以开发出具有优越机械，运输和环境性能和性能特征的复合材料。然而，如果要有效地应用这项技术，有必要了解以相形式存在的纳米增强背后的基本现象以及缩放问题。基于粘弹性和分子水平的各向异性和非均质性的建模分析将支持这一研究以及在纳米/微观/宏观水平上对材料性能的缩放。因此，本研究将探讨纳米结构、环境中的纳米工艺和纳米制造工艺的三位一体。纳米技术的发展代表了材料设计、制造和设想方式的根本变化。上述研究目标的实现将通过发展一个多元化的全球团队来实现，该团队将包括来自工业界和学术界的专家，具有不同的专业领域（聚合物化学，聚合物物理，界面和表面科学，先进复合材料和环境科学）和年龄群体，从具有多年经验的科学家到研究生和本科生。该团队将由三个节点组成，分别位于美国、韩国和瑞士。这个团队的多样性将允许以前所未有的方式从多个层面和多个角度对这个项目进行全球调查。此外，它将为快速发展的纳米技术领域的学生和年轻研究人员提供独特的机会。研究纳米技术需要跨学科的团队，也需要让人们了解这个领域的进步和不同的学科。

Advanced composite materials are widely utilized because of their low weight and relatively high strength and stiffness. Traditional composites rely on the use of macro or micro-scale reinforcements to increase their properties and performance. Through the use of nano-scale reinforcements and structures, either alone or in conjunction with macro-scale structures, composites with superior mechanical, transport, and environmental properties and performance characteristics can be developed. It is necessary however, to understand the fundamental phenomena behind nano-reinforcement in the form of a phase as well as scaling issues if this technology is to be effectively applied. Modeling analyses that focus on viscoelasticity and molecular-level anisotropy and heterogeneity will support this investigation and the scaling of material properties on a nano/micro/macro level. Therefore, the proposed research will investigate the trinity of nanoscale structures, nanoscale processes in the environment, and manufacturing processes at the nanoscale. The development of nanotechnology represents a fundamental change in the way materials are designed, manufactured, and envisioned. The realization of the above research objectives will be accomplished through the development of a diverse and global team that will incorporate experts from both industry and academia, with diverse areas of expertise (polymer chemistry, polymer physics, interfacial and surface science, advanced composite materials, and environmental science) and age groups varying from scientists with many years of experience down to graduate and undergraduate students. The team will consist of three nodes, in the US, Korea and Switzerland. The diverse nature of this team will allow for a global investigation of this project on many levels and from many angles in an unprecedented fashion. Furthermore, it will provide unique opportunities to students and young researchers in the rapidly developing field of nanotechnology. Interdisciplinary teams are needed to study nanotechnology and are also needed to educate people about the advancements and varying disciplines in this field.