Synthesis, Manufacturing and Characterization of Structural Nanocomposites

美国塔斯基吉大学CREST结构纳米复合材料合成、制造和表征中心在CREST的更新中，塔斯基吉大学继续发展纳米复合材料的科学和技术。该机构将扩大博士项目，以培养大量具有材料科学领域高级学位的少数民族学生。一个多元化的研究团队已经聚集在一起，研究与结构纳米复合材料的合成、制造和表征相关的整个技术范围。CREST中心的三个研究子课题是：(1)结构纳米复合材料的合成与分析；(2)结构纳米复合材料的建模与制造；(3)结构纳米复合材料的性能评价。这些研究活动构成了目前CREST中心下的研究团队对先进复合材料（包括纳米复合材料）的合成、建模和制造研究的系统和逻辑扩展。这一建议的智力价值在于，纳米颗粒注入聚合物的好处正在利用综合方法制造纳米相结构复合材料。因此，这些结构复合材料将具有显著优越的机械、化学和热性能。实现上述目标将扩大纳米粒子-聚合物相互作用的科学知识，并在短期内提供有关新一代结构材料的全面技术信息。拟议的活动所产生的更广泛的影响包括，大量的非裔美国毕业生，包括许多博士学位的毕业生，将在材料科学和工程这一新兴领域产生。这样的毕业生应该在未来几年成为许多年轻的少数民族理工科学生的榜样。此外，这些毕业生将有助于为国家的先进技术劳动力带来急需的多样性。

HRD 0317741CREST Center for Synthesis, Manufacturing and Characterization of StructuralNanocompositesTuskegee UniversityPI: Shaik JeelaniIn this CREST renewal, Tuskegee University continues development of the science and technology of nanocomposites. The institution will expand the Ph.D. program to graduate significant numbers of minority students with advanced degrees in the materials science area. A diverse team of researchers has been assembled to study the entire spectrum of technology related to synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of structural nanocomposites. The three research subprojects of the CREST center are: (i) Synthesis and Analysis of Structural Nanocomposites, (ii) Modeling and Manufacturing of Structural Nanocomposites, and (iii) Performance Evaluation of Structural Nanocomposites. These research activities constitute a systematic and logical expansion of studies of the synthesis, modeling, and manufacturing of advanced composites (including nanocomposites) performed by the research team under the current CREST Center.The intellectual merit of this proposal lies in the fact that the benefits of nanoparticle infusion into a polymer are being harnessed for the manufacture of nanophased structural composites using a comprehensive approach. These structural composites will consequently have significantly superior mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Fulfillment of the stated objectives will expand knowledge of the science of nanoparticle-polymer interactions as well as provide, in the short term, comprehensive technical information on a new generation of structural materials.The broader impacts resulting from the proposed activities include the fact that a large number of African American graduates, including many at the Ph.D. level, will be produced in an emerging area of materials science and engineering. Such graduates should become role models for many young minority science and engineering students in years to come. Moreover, these graduates will help bring much-needed diversity to the nation's advanced technological workforce.