Design of CNT Composite Microstructural Characteristics for Enhanced Engineering Functionality and Manufacturability

本研究的总体目标是研究三个关键微观结构参数的影响，即(i)碳纳米管-聚合物界面强度；（ii）碳纳米管取向；(3)碳纳米管分散水平对碳纳米管复合材料可制造性的影响。为了实现这一目标，加工力学将通过采用实验技术进行检验，包括原子力显微镜内加工和伊利诺伊大学最近开发的新型微划线加工工艺。先前由首席研究员和他的同事开发的碳纳米管聚合物复合模型，假设完美的界面键合，将通过使用两种可能的方法明确地模拟碳纳米管-聚合物界面来增强；将界面作为微观结构中的第三相进行建模，并使用碳纳米管-聚合物界面的内聚区模型。模型验证将使用微划线过程完成。这个项目给社会带来的好处包括加深了对碳纳米管-聚合物界面强度对碳纳米管可制造性的影响的理解，并大大增加了碳纳米管在生物医学、电子和国防等领域的微尺度应用中的潜力；例如，用于药物输送的微流体电路，更有效地封装微电子等应用。作为纳米和宏观世界之间的桥梁，本项目的研究将促进微制造领域新一代领导者的教育和培训。此外，项目研究人员将通过积极参与一些校内/校外项目，包括女性参与工程项目，强烈鼓励来自代表性不足群体的成员参与；少数民族工程专业；麦克奈尔学者项目将努力整合新的碳纳米管复合材料的应用和可加工性问题在拟议的研究发展到新的和现有的课程在伊利诺伊大学。

The overarching objective of the proposed research is to study the effects of the three critical microstructural parameters, namely, (i) carbon nanotube-polymer interfacial strength; (ii) carbon nanotube orientation; and (iii) Level of carbon nanotube dispersion, on the manufacturability of carbon nanotube composites. To achieve this objective the machining mechanics will be examined by employing experimental techniques that include both machining inside an atomic force microscope and machining with a new micro-scribing process recently developed at the University of Illinois. The carbon nanotube polymer composite model developed earlier by the principal investigator and his colleagues, which assumed perfect interface bonding, will be enhanced by explicitly modeling the carbon nanotube-polymer interface using two possible approaches; modeling the interface as a third phase in the microstructure, and, using cohesive zone models for the carbon nanotube-polymer interface. Model validation will be accomplished using the micro-scribing processes. The benefits to society of this project include an enhanced understanding of the effects of carbon nanotube-polymer interfacial strength on the manufacturability of carbon nanotubes and a substantial increase of their potential for use in micro-scale applications that span fields including biomedical, electronics and defense; for example, applications such as microfluidic circuits for drug delivery, more effectively packaged micro-electronics. As a bridge between the nano- and the macro-worlds, the research pursued in this project will facilitate the education and training of a new generation of leaders in the field of micro-manufacturing. Further, the project researchers will strongly encourage participation of members from under-represented groups by proactively participating in several on-campus/off-campus programs, including Women in Engineering Program; Minority Engineering Program; the McNair Scholar program. An effort will be made to integrate new carbon nanotube composite applications and machinability issues developed in the proposed research into both new and existing courses at the University of Illinois.