Understanding Corrosion and Diffusion Behavior in Metal Particle Polymer Composites for Corrosion Sensing

本研究主要研究纳米功能化金属颗粒聚合物复合材料的腐蚀和多相扩散的基本过程。这项研究所获得的知识将使一种基于MEMS的新型腐蚀传感器技术成为可能，这种技术体积小、可裁剪、智能，最终使美国能够更好地专注于指定用于基础设施修复的金融投资。将进行实验，以(I)了解与制造含有微米和纳米颗粒夹杂物的聚合物相关的基本问题，以及(Ii)研究材料在模拟腐蚀环境中的性能。采用原子模拟方法研究了颗粒聚合物复合材料中扩散和腐蚀的纳米尺度细节。拟议的模拟将提供详细的了解夹杂物对聚合物链在基质中的结构和腐蚀性分子通过复合材料的传输所起的作用。本文研究的复合材料中扩散和颗粒反应的基本方面可能对其他传感技术具有广泛的适用性。该项目将整合机械工程系的NSF REU站点、NSF Robert Noyce奖学金计划的到期站点和阿肯色大学的George Washington Carver计划，以招收代表人数不足的学生，并在高需求地区与STEM K-12教师建立联系。

This research focuses on the fundamental processes of corrosion and multi-phase diffusion in metal particle polymer composites with functionalized nano behavior. The knowledge attained by this research will enable a new type of MEMS-based corrosion sensor technology that is small-size, tailorable and smart, ultimately allowing the US to better focus financial investments earmarked for infrastructure repair. Experiments will be carried out to (i) understand the fundamental issues associated with the fabrication of polymers with micro- and nano-particle inclusions and (ii) study material performance in simulated corrosive environments. Atomistic simulation is used to study the nanoscale details of diffusion and corrosion in particle polymer composites. The proposed simulations will provide a detailed understanding of the role of the inclusions on the structure of the polymer chains in the matrix and on the transport of corrosive molecules through the composite. Fundamental aspects of diffusion and particle reactions in the composites studied in this work potentially have broad applicability to other sensing technologies. This project will integrate the NSF REU site in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, NSF DUE site for Robert Noyce Scholarships Program, and George Washington Carver program at the University of Arkansas to recruit underrepresented students and interface with STEM K-12 teachers in high-need areas.