Polymer-Based Nanocomposites: An Educational Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

这个更新项目为失聪和重听学生提供了一个参与聚合物领域的课堂和实验室研究工作的机会。一小群大学生将在暑假期间在塔夫茨大学实习六周。课堂和实验室的内容涉及聚合物和聚合物基纳米复合材料的材料化学和物理，聚合物的结晶和熔化，x射线和光与聚合物的相互作用，聚合物的机械性能，以及聚合物的热加工、结构和最终性能之间的联系。为了让学生为参与科学界做好准备，专业前培训的一个重要组成部分被纳入其中，包括研究表现和奖学金中的伦理问题的讨论。实验研究部分的目标是：让学生接触实验室环境；向他们介绍制定和检验假设的概念；在控制变量的前提下，协助学生进行系统的学习；说明现代分析设备的使用；并演示处理变量、结构和属性之间的联系。学生们将制作并表征聚合物基纳米复合薄膜，该薄膜由半结晶聚合物基质和添加剂组成，添加剂可以是有机改性硅酸盐（粘土）或玻璃纳米球。这项研究将有助于对纳米颗粒对半晶聚合物结构和性能的影响有一个基本的了解。在这次更新中，我们将使用最新的仪器来强调机械性能测量。更广泛的影响该项目针对的是弱势少数群体，即聋人和重听大学生。这个项目的独特之处在于它强调：1。团队合作;2. 一个从头到尾的研究项目的表现；3. 材料sciencebasedapproach;和4。多样性。所有残疾程度的学生都可以参加这个项目，包括那些既听不见也不能说话的学生。更广泛的影响将是通过在他们教育生活的形成阶段提供积极的科学经验，将失聪和重听学生作为专业人士带入更大的科学界。该计划的长期目标是增加聋人和重听学生在科学和工程方面的参与，并为这些学生提供丰富和指导。

Intellectual MeritThis renewal project provides an opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing studentsto participate in classroom and laboratory research work in the field of polymers. Asmall group of college-age students will perform an internship at Tufts University for sixweeks during the summer. The classroom and laboratory components address thematerials chemistry and physics of polymers and polymer-based nanocomposites,crystallization and melting of polymers, the interaction of X-rays and light withpolymers, mechanical properties of polymers, and the connection between thermalprocessing, structure, and ultimate properties of polymers. To prepare the students forparticipation in the scientific community, a strong component of pre-professional trainingis incorporated, including discussion of ethical issues in the performance of research andin scholarship. The goals of the laboratory research component are to: expose thestudents to the laboratory environment; introduce them to the concepts of formulating andtesting hypotheses; assist students to conduct systematic studies while controllingvariables; illustrate the use of modern analytical equipment; and demonstrate theconnection between processing variables, structure, and properties.The students will make and characterize polymer-based nanocomposite filmscomprising a semicrystalline polymer matrix and an additive, which will be eitherorganically modified silicates (clay) or glass nanospheres. This research will contributeto a fundamental understanding of the effects of nanoparticles on the structure andproperties of semicrystalline polymers. In this renewal, we will emphasize mechanicalproperty measurements, using newly available instrumentation. Broader ImpactThe program is aimed at a disadvantaged minority population, of deaf and hard ofhearing college age students. The unique attributes of this program are its emphasis on:1. Teamwork; 2. Performance of a start-to-finish research project; 3. Materials sciencebasedapproach; and 4. Diversity. Students of all disability levels are candidates for thisprogram, including those students who neither hear nor voice. The broader impact willbe to bring deaf and hard of hearing students into the larger scientific community asprofessionals, by providing positive scientific experiences at a formative time in theireducational lives. The long-range goal of the proposed program is to increaseparticipation of deaf and hard of hearing students in science and engineering, and provideenrichment and mentoring for these students.