EAGER: Development of Novel Analytical Approaches for Measurements of CNTs Release from Polymer Nanocomposites

人们对开发由有机聚合物和各种纳米材料组成的纳米复合材料越来越感兴趣。与未改性的聚合物相比，这些新材料在介电、磁性、热、机械、光学、传输、渗透和分离性能方面具有独特的功能。虽然纳米材料被认为具有潜在的危险性，但当它们被封装到基质中时通常被认为是安全的。然而，系统的研究，以确认上述范式是缺乏的，尽管nanomerialrelease对人类健康和环境的潜在风险。智力优点：目前的研究对纳米复合材料的稳定性主要集中在短期stabilityand性能，而长期的问题还没有得到妥善解决。这种知识差距有可能阻碍聚合物在各个行业的应用和接受。更具体地说，基体和纳米复合材料的稳定性至关重要。众所周知，聚合物基体在生产、使用和处置过程中暴露于各种环境条件下时会发生降解。这可能导致纳米填料释放，可能导致各种健康和环境问题。因此，了解纳米复合材料在相关环境条件下的行为是至关重要的，更具体地说，评估复合材料中碳纳米管（CNTs）的释放量和释放速率对现有的分析技术是一个巨大的挑战。这个项目将利用C-14标记的碳纳米管，这将使我们能够使用一个相对简单的分析技术来量化释放的碳纳米管。这将是巨大的价值，为推进我们的知识，各种碳纳米管暴露的情况下，通过开发准确的计量工具。该工具也可以是至关重要的发展的准确的生命周期评估的CNT sencapsulated到聚合物composite.Broader影响：该项目可以显着影响纳米毒理学，环境工程，materialsscience和绿色化学/工程领域，通过评估各种战略fordelivering功能纳米复合材料，减少健康和环境的影响。这些方法的目的是及时作出贡献的基本理解的环境健康和安全的纳米技术。在这个项目的过程中，学生将获得基础知识和应用知识，在许多领域的科学和工程，包括环境健康和安全的纳米技术。我们的团队已经利用了一个新的NSF REU网站在纳米技术的健康，能源和环境在石溪大学的资源。我们将继续通过REU网站招收学生，该网站专注于非研究性4年制机构的学生。通过斯托尼布鲁克大学已经建立的几个招聘机制，我们将接触到代表性不足的群体，包括来自少数民族和经济弱势社区的学生以及女性。所有这些活动将为实现该提案的显著广泛影响奠定良好的基础

CBET - 1342028There is growing interest in the development of nanocomposites consisting of organic polymersand various nanomaterials. These new materials can provide unique functionalities as comparedto unmodified polymers in terms of dielectric, magnetic, thermal, mechanical, optical, transport,permeation and separation properties. Although nanomaterials are considered potentially hazardous,they are often considered safe when encapsulated into the matrix. However, systematic researchto confirm the abovementioned paradigm is lacking, despite the potential risks of nanomaterialrelease to human health and environment.Intellectual Merit :Current research on the stability of nanocomposites has focused primarily on short term stabilityand performance, whereas the longer term issues have not been properly addressed. This knowledgegap has the potential to hinder both applications and acceptance of polymers in various industries.More specifically, stability of both matrix and nanocomposites are of critical importance.It is known that the polymer matrix can undergo degradation when exposed to various environmentalconditions during production, use and disposal. This can lead to nanofiller release, whichcan potentially cause various health and environmental problems. Therefore, it is absolutelycritical to understand the behavior of nanocomposites under relevant environmental conditions.More specifically, evaluation of the amounts and rates of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) releasefrom composites has been a tremendous challenge for the existing analytical techniques sofar. This project will utilize C-14 labeled CNTs which will allow us to quantify the releasedCNTs using a relatively simple analytical technique. This will be of tremendous value foradvancing our knowledge of various CNTs exposure scenarios by developing accurate metrologytools. This tool can be also vital for development of accurate life cycle assessments of CNTsencapsulated into the polymer composites.Broader Impacts :This project can significantly impact nanotoxicology, environmental engineering, materialsscience and green chemistry/engineering areas through evaluation of various strategies fordelivering functional nanocomposites with reduced health and environmental impacts. Theseapproaches are designed to make timely contributions to a basic understanding of the environmentalhealth and safety of nanotechnology. During the course of this project, the students willgain fundamental and applied knowledge in many areas of science and engineering encompassingenvironmental health and safety of nanotechnology. Our team has already utilized the resourcesof a new NSF REU site in Nanotechnology for Health, Energy, and the Environment at Stony BrookUniversity. We will continue to recruit students through the REU site, which focuses on studentsfrom non-research, 4-year institutions with this research project. Through several recruitmentmechanisms already established at the Stony Brook University we will reach underrepresentedgroups, including students from minority and economically disadvantaged communities as wellas females. All these activities will establish a good foundation to achieve notable broaderimpacts of this proposal