Interfacial Wetting and Adhesion Enhancement in Advanced Organic-Fiber/Polymer Composites through a "Nano-nectar" Methodology

本奖项的研究目标是建立有机纤维增强聚合物复合材料的润湿和粘附机制。这种方法涉及到一种反应性的“纳米花蜜”（一种“液体纳米增强剂”）的开发，它将导致反应性纳米基质材料的产生，以改善有机纤维表面的润湿性，而不是对有机纤维进行纤维表面处理，从而降低有机纤维的性能。纳米甘露基反应性纳米环氧材料不是简单的纳米填料和聚合物的混合物，它在化学上是统一的，并将显著增强其复合材料的机械性能。交付成果包括纳米技术制备纳米花蜜的方法，界面润湿/粘附增强机制，以及在宏观，微观和纳米尺度上建立复合材料结构和性能的关系。如果成功，这项研究的结果将证明纳米技术是改善纤维复合材料界面润湿性/粘附性的有效工具。它将提供增强的复合性能，而不会牺牲有机纤维的固有优点。这种方法的发展将是一个可行的替代目前无效的表面处理有机纤维。这项研究的成功将开启表面和界面科学与工程的新研究，并将有助于开发新型轻质高性能复合材料，用于广泛的工业领域，包括航空航天、可再生能源结构和地面运输系统。有机纤维可以避免碳纤维的问题，如金属腐蚀，重要的是，这种低成本/节能的技术可能为碳纤维复合材料日益增长的需求提供一个现实的选择，目前碳纤维复合材料由于应用的增加而面临全球短缺。不同水平的学生，包括代表性不足的群体，将从讲座和研讨会以及参与研究中受益。

The research objective of this award is to establish the mechanism that is responsible for wetting and adhesion in organic fiber reinforced polymeric composite materials. Instead of applying fiber surface treatments to the organic fibers that can degrade the organic fiber properties, this methodology involves development of a reactive "nano-nectar" (a "liquid nano-reinforcement") that will lead to reactive nano-matrix materials for improved wettability to the organic fiber surface. Not a simple mixture of nanofiller and polymers, the nano-nectar based reactive nano-epoxy materials are chemically unified and will result in significantly enhanced mechanical properties for their composites. Deliverables include a nanotechnology method for the nano-nectar fabrication, mechanisms of the interfacial wetting/adhesion enhancement, and establishment of the relationships of structure and properties of composites on macro-, micro- and nano-scale levels.If successful, the results of this research will demonstrate that nanotechnology is an effective tool for improving interfacial wetting/adhesion of fiber composites. It will offer enhanced composite properties without sacrificing the inherent benefits of the organic fibers. Development of such an approach will be a viable alternative for current ineffective surface treatments for organic fibers. Success of this research will initiate new studies on surface and interface science and engineering and will contribute to the development of new lightweight high performance composites for a broad array of industry sectors including aerospace, renewable energy structures, and ground transportation systems. Organic fibers can avoid problems with carbon fibers such as corrosion with metals and importantly, this cost/energy efficient technology may provide a realistic option to the growing demand for carbon fiber composites, which are currently suffering from a global shortage as applications increase. Students with different levels including under-represented groups will benefit from lectures and seminars as well as involvement in the research.