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

这个学术联络与工业（GOALI）合作研究项目的目标是探索一种创新的制造方法，并研究高分子纳米复合材料多功能纳米泡沫的基本纳米级现象。这种纳米复合纳米泡沫材料将具有许多理想的性能，如超高强度重量比、高导电性和高声阻尼系数，这些是目前最先进的发泡技术无法实现的。尽管聚合物纳米复合材料的纳米泡沫具有前所未有的材料性能，但目前还没有一种可以大规模生产多功能纳米泡沫的制造工艺。本研究将探索一种经济、环保的方法，利用应力诱导气体发泡技术从聚合物纳米复合材料中制造多功能纳米泡沫。这项研究是为科学发现而精心策划的跨学科努力。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。该研究对于纳米制造的科学和工程以及许多对国民经济至关重要的工业应用具有重要意义。聚合物纳米复合纳米泡沫将导致一类新型材料的出现，这些材料在许多工业应用中都是非常需要的，比如新一代的商用飞机，它们的燃油效率要高得多，而风车结构则是可再生能源的关键。纳米复合材料纳米泡沫提供的材料增强将大大减轻重量和多功能，同时仍然保持甚至提高整体结构性能。纳米复合材料纳米泡沫的额外吸引力在于，它们可以定制以执行多种功能，例如承载，静电防护，电磁屏蔽，声学阻尼，甚至最终传感。这项研究将有助于提高产业竞争力，创造新的就业机会，并造福整个社会。它还将为学术界和工业界之间建立长期合作、发展跨校园的研究基础设施、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进来提供巨大的机会。

The objective of this Grant Opportunity for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) collaborative research project 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 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 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 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.