GOALI: Development of Inorganic Phosphate Glass Matrix Nanocomposites Incorporating Nanoscale Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxanes with Improved Properties

非技术性：这个学术联系行业研究机会项目涉及光学透明玻璃基纳米复合材料的开发，其中特殊的分子二氧化硅被化学结合到超低熔点磷酸盐玻璃中。这项研究的假设是，在液态加工过程中，在类似分子水平长度的尺度上增强分子二氧化硅和磷酸盐玻璃基质的分子水平组合有可能在许多应用中提供显著改善的光学和机械性能。在相对较低的温度(250°C)下，通过在挤出机中进行液态加工，可以轻松地制造复杂形状的纳米复合材料，使用分子二氧化硅增强玻璃，以及通过低温退火实现玻璃的潜在自愈，这一能力为传统玻璃和陶瓷材料的加工和设计提供了独特的变革性选择。该项目在国家目前对发展微纳尺度材料和加工技术的兴趣中发挥了重要作用。该项目为两名研究生提供了有用的培训，并在一个重要的研究领域为本科生提供了一些研究经验，对美国未来在纳米结构“光学透明”无机玻璃基纳米复合材料领域的经济发展产生了重大影响。从南密西西比大学庞大的少数民族学生中招收女性和其他代表性较低的少数族裔(例如，种族、残疾人、地理位置)是该项目的一个重要目标。技术细节：这是南密西西比大学和工业(混合塑料公司)之间的合作研究努力。研究了掺入少量定义明确的纳米结构无机簇合物或分子二氧化硅如何用于调节‘光学透明’分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料系统的形态、流变性以及强度和断裂韧性。新知识和新现象的发现是发明新应用的先决条件。此外，研究方法的多样化加上合作是取得最佳进展的关键。特别是，学术界与业界的联系为为一系列应用创造和完善高度相关的材料提供了重要的指导和明确的重点。由该项目的工业合作伙伴制造的特殊分子二氧化硅由一个八角形硅基保持架组成，承载一个或多个指定的官能团，以产生一种新型的创新型分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料，该复合材料结合了透明度(光学清晰度)以及提高的强度和断裂韧性，适用于特殊安全用途。通过使用各种互补的方法，该项目探索了表征良好的分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料的结构、流变性和热机械行为的分子起源，从而有可能定义在纳米尺度上发展、影响微观尺度和影响宏观尺度的机制。由于纳米多面体低聚倍半硅氧烷(POSS)以化学的精度融合了纳米薄膜的性质，而分子二氧化硅笼子的长度尺度(即1.5 nm)接近磷酸盐玻璃的短程结构，因此推测独特的相互作用导致了对纳米复合材料性能的优化控制，如强度、断裂韧性和透光率。

NON-TECHNICAL: This Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry research project concerns the development of optically transparent glass matrix nanocomposite, wherein special molecular silica is chemically incorporated into ultra-low melting phosphate glass. The hypothesis of the proposed research is that molecular-level combination during liquid-state processing of reinforcing molecular silica and phosphate glass matrix at similar molecular-level length scales has the potential to offer significantly improved optical and mechanical properties for a number of applications. The ability to easily manufacture intricate shapes of the nanocomposites by liquid-state processing in an extruder at relatively low temperatures (250°C), to reinforce glass with molecular silica, and to potential self-healing of glass via low-temperature annealing offer distinctive transformative alternatives to conventional glass and ceramics materials processing and design. This project plays an important role in the Nation's current interest in developing micro- and nano-length scale materials and processing technologies. The project provides useful training for two graduate students and a number of research experiences for undergraduate students in a vital area of research, making significant impact on the future economic development of the U.S. in the area of nanostructured 'optically transparent' inorganic glass matrix nanocomposites materials. Recruiting women and other underrepresented minorities (e.g., ethnic, disabled, geographic) from the University of Southern Mississippi's sizable minority student population is an important objective of this project.TECHNICAL DETAILS: This cooperative research effort between Southern Mississippi University and industry (Hybrid Plastics, Inc.) investigates how incorporation of small amounts of a well-defined nanostructured inorganic cluster or molecular silica can be used to tune morphological, rheological and strength and fracture toughness of 'optically transparent' molecular silica/phosphate glass matrix nanocomposites system. The discovery of new knowledge and phenomena are prerequisites to inventing new applications. As well, the diversification of research approaches coupled with cooperation is critical for the best progress. In particular, the academic-industry liaison provides critical guidance and a clear focus for the creation and refinement of highly relevance materials for a range of applications. The special molecular silica which is manufactured by the industrial partner of this project consists of an eight-corner, silica-based cage bearing one or more prescribed functional groups to yield a new class of innovative molecular silica/phosphate glass matrix nanocomposites that combines transparency (optical clarity) and improved strength and fracture toughness for special security uses. By using a variety of complementary methods, the project explores the molecular origin of the structure, rheological properties and thermo-mechanical behavior of well-characterized molecular silica/phosphate glass matrix nanocomposites, making it possible to define mechanisms that develop on nanometer length scales, influence the microscale, and impact the macroscale. Because the nano-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) merges the properties of nanofillers with the precision of chemistry and the molecular silica cage length scale (i.e., 1.5 nm) approaches the short-range structure of phosphate glass, it is conjectured that unique interactions develop that give rise to optimal control of the nanocomposite properties such as strength, fracture toughness and light transmittance.