Inter-American Materials Collaboration between U.S. and Mexico: Novel Preparations and Characterizations of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites

美洲材料合作项目汇集了美国纽约州立大学石溪分校（SUNYSB）和墨西哥圣路易斯波托西自治大学的两个研究实验室，共同研究聚合物和粘土纳米复合材料的几个基本问题，这些问题可能对两国都有潜在的应用效益。这些问题包括：(1)开发具有直接商业化重要性的热塑性聚合物-粘土纳米复合材料的新途径，(2)先进的原位表征方法（x射线、拉曼和流变学）的应用，以了解加工过程中的结构和性能关系，以及(3)基于原位x射线、拉曼和流变学研究的纳米复合材料中粘土形态的建模。这两个团队具有互补的专业知识和研究能力。美国科学家（Hsiao和Hsu）在同步加速器x射线散射、流变特性和复杂纳米结构材料的结构建模方面有丰富的经验，墨西哥科学家（Medellin）是聚合物纳米复合材料技术的专家。该项目的一个直接好处是，拟议的活动将在美国和墨西哥的两个科学机构之间建立紧密的联系。该项目在探索墨西哥和美国之间粘土材料的变化方面具有特别的优势。这种基本方法可以克服聚合物/粘土纳米复合材料商业化过程中遇到的几个紧迫问题。此外，基于对粘土剥落、加工过程中粘土形态和取向的更好理解，以及美国和墨西哥粘土的独特混合物，未来有可能开发出极具吸引力的新商业产品。该项目包括两国之间的学生和科学家的培训和交流。该奖项由材料研究部、国际科学与工程办公室以及数学和物理科学理事会的多学科活动办公室提供支持。

This Inter-American Materials Collaboration brings together two research laboratories from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNYSB) in the U.S. and the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi in Mexico to study several fundamental issues of polymer and clay nanocomposites that can have potential applications of benefits to both countries. These issues include (1) the development of new pathways to prepare thermoplastic polymer-clay nanocomposites with direct commercialization importance, (2) the applications of advanced in-situ characterization methods (X-ray, Raman and rheology) to understand the structure and property relationship during processing, and (3) the modeling of clay morphology in nanocomposites based on in-situ X-ray, Raman and rheological studies. The two teams have complementary expertise and research capabilities. The U.S. scientists (Hsiao and Hsu) have considerable experience in synchrotron X-ray scattering, rheological characterizations and structural modeling of complex nanostructured materials and the Mexican scientist (Medellin) is an expert in polymer nanocomposite technology.An immediate benefit of the project is that the proposed activities will produce tight links between two scientific institutions in the US and in Mexico. The project takes particular advantage in exploring the variations of clay materials between Mexico and the United States. The fundamental approach may overcome several pressing problems encountered in the commercialization of polymer/clay nanocomposites today. Furthermore, based on a better understanding of clay exfoliation, clay morphology and orientation during processing, and unique blends of U.S. and Mexican clays, the potential exists to develop highly attractive new commercial products for tomorrow. The project includes the training and the exchange of students and scientists between the two countries. This award is supported by the Division of Materials Research, the Office of International Science and Engineering, and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.