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

非技术性：该研究项目涉及光学透明玻璃基质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。拟议研究的假设是，在类似分子水平长度尺度下，增强分子二氧化硅和磷酸盐玻璃基质的液态加工过程中的分子水平组合有可能为许多应用提供显着改善的光学和机械性能。通过在挤出机中在相对较低的温度（250°C）下进行液态加工，容易地制造复杂形状的纳米复合材料的能力，用分子二氧化硅增强玻璃的能力，以及通过低温退火的玻璃的潜在自我修复的能力，为传统的玻璃和陶瓷材料加工和设计提供了独特的变革性替代方案。该项目在国家目前对开发微米和纳米长度尺度材料和加工技术的兴趣中发挥着重要作用。该项目为两名研究生提供了有用的培训，并为本科生提供了一些重要研究领域的研究经验，对美国在纳米结构“光学透明”无机玻璃基纳米复合材料领域的未来经济发展产生了重大影响。招聘妇女和其他代表性不足的少数群体（例如，种族，残疾人，地理）从南密西西比的大学的相当大的少数民族学生人口是一个重要的目标，这个项目的技术支持：这项合作研究努力之间的南密西西比大学和工业（混合塑料公司）。研究了如何掺入少量的定义明确的纳米结构无机簇或分子二氧化硅可以用来调整形态，流变学和强度和断裂韧性的“光学透明”分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基质纳米复合材料系统。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对于取得最佳进展至关重要。特别是，学术界和工业界的联络提供了重要的指导和明确的重点，为一系列应用程序的高度相关性的材料的创建和完善。 由该项目的工业合作伙伴生产的特殊分子二氧化硅由一个八角的硅基笼组成，该笼具有一个或多个指定的官能团，以产生一类新的创新分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料，该复合材料结合了透明度（光学透明度）和提高的强度和断裂韧性，用于特殊安全用途。通过使用各种互补的方法，该项目探索了结构的分子起源，流变性能和表征良好的分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料的热机械行为，使其能够定义在纳米长度尺度上发展的机制，影响微观尺度，并影响宏观尺度。由于纳米多面体低聚倍半硅氧烷（POSS）将纳米填料的性质与化学精确性和分子二氧化硅笼长尺度（即，1.5 nm）接近磷酸盐玻璃的短程结构，证实了独特的相互作用的发展，引起纳米复合材料性能的最佳控制，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.