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

本文主要研究具有功能化纳米行为的金属颗粒聚合物复合材料的腐蚀和多相扩散的基本过程。通过这项研究获得的知识将使一种新型的基于mems的腐蚀传感器技术成为可能，这种技术体积小，可定制且智能，最终使美国能够更好地集中用于基础设施维修的金融投资。实验将进行(i)了解与制造带有微和纳米颗粒内含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。所提出的模拟将提供一个详细的了解在基体中的聚合物链的结构和在通过复合材料的腐蚀性分子的运输的包裹体的作用。在这项工作中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网站、Robert Noyce奖学金项目的NSF DUE网站和阿肯萨斯大学的George Washington Carver项目，以招募代表性不足的学生，并与高需求领域的STEM K-12教师进行对接。

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.