GOALI/Collaborative Research: Fabrication of Multifunctional Nanofoams from Polymer Nanocomposites

本研究的目标是探索一种创新的制造方法，并研究聚合物纳米复合材料的多功能纳米泡沫中的基本纳米尺度现象。这样的纳米复合材料纳米泡沫材料将具有许多期望的性质，例如超高强度-重量比、高导电性和高声阻尼系数，这是使用现有技术的发泡技术无法获得的。尽管来自聚合物纳米复合材料的纳米泡沫承诺前所未有的材料性质，但目前还没有可按比例放大以生产用于大规模应用的多功能纳米泡沫的制造工艺。这项研究将探索一种具有成本效益和环境友好的方法，使用应力诱导气体发泡技术从聚合物纳米复合材料中产生多功能纳米泡沫。拟议中的研究是一个精心策划的跨学科的努力，以科学发现。来自学术界和工业界的研究人员将密切合作，以确保其成功。这项研究对于纳米制造的科学和工程以及对国民经济至关重要的许多工业应用具有重要意义。聚合物纳米复合材料纳米泡沫将成为许多工业应用迫切需要的一类新型材料，例如新一代商用飞机，其燃油效率要高得多，以及可再生能源的关键风车结构。纳米复合材料提供的材料增强将使重量大大减轻和多功能性，同时仍然保持甚至改善整体结构性能。纳米复合材料纳米泡沫的额外吸引力在于它们可以被定制以执行多种功能，例如承载、防静电、电磁屏蔽、声阻尼，甚至最终感测。拟议的研究将有助于提高行业竞争力，创造新的就业机会，造福社会。它还将为建立学术界和工业界之间的长期合作，开发跨校园的研究基础设施，并让包括K-12，本科生和研究生在内的各级学生以及女性和少数民族学生参与提供绝佳的机会。

The goal of this research is to explore an innovative fabrication approach and to study fundamental nano-scale phenomena in multifunctional nanofoams from polymeric nanocomposites. Such nanocomposite nanofoam materials will have many desirable properties, such as ultra-high strength-to-weight ratio, high electrical conductivity, and high acoustic damping coefficient, which have not been attainable using the state-of-the-art foaming technology. Although nanofoams from polymer nanocomposites promise unprecedented material properties, a manufacturing process that can be scaled up to produce multifunctional nanofoams for large scale applications is not currently available. This research will explore a cost-effective and environmentally benign approach to creating multifunctional nanofoams from polymer nanocomposites using a stress-induced gas foaming technique. The proposed research is a well-planned interdisciplinary effort toward scientific discovery. Researchers from both academia and industry will work closely together to ensure its success. The proposed research is greatly significant for the science and engineering of nanomanufacturing, as well as many industrial applications that are crucial to the national economy. Polymer nanocomposite nanofoams will lead to a class of novel materials that are critically needed for many industrial applications, such as new generation commercial airplanes that are far more fuel efficient and critical windmill structures for renewable energy. The material enhancements offered by nanocomposite nanofoams would enable great weight reduction and multifunctionality, while still maintaining or even improving the overall structural performance. The added attractiveness of nanocomposite nanofoams is that they can be tailored to perform multiple functions, such as load bearing, electro-static preventing, electro-magnetic shielding, acoustic damping, and eventually even sensing. The proposed research will contribute to the industry competitiveness, creating new job opportunities, and benefiting society at large. It will also provide great opportunities to establish long-term collaboration between academia and industry, develop research infrastructure across campuses, and involve students at all levels, including K-12, undergraduate, and graduate, as well as woman and minority students.