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

非技术：该资助项目涉及光学透明玻璃基纳米复合材料的开发，其中特殊分子二氧化硅被化学地掺入超低熔点磷酸盐玻璃中。所提出的研究假设是，在类似分子水平长度尺度上增强分子二氧化硅和磷酸盐玻璃基质的液态处理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。在相对较低的温度（250°C）下，通过挤出机的液态加工，可以轻松制造复杂形状的纳米复合材料，用分子二氧化硅增强玻璃，并通过低温退火实现玻璃的潜在自愈，这些都为传统玻璃和陶瓷材料的加工和设计提供了独特的变革选择。该项目在国家当前对开发微纳米尺度材料和加工技术的兴趣中起着重要作用。该项目为两名研究生提供了有益的培训，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族裔学生群体中招募女性和其他未被充分代表的少数族裔（例如，少数族裔、残疾人、地理）是本项目的一个重要目标。技术细节：南密西西比大学和工业界（Hybrid Plastics, Inc.）之间的这项合作研究工作，研究了如何将少量明确定义的纳米结构无机簇或分子二氧化硅结合起来，用于调整“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、强度和断裂韧性。发现新知识和新现象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取得最佳进展至关重要。特别是，学术界与工业界的联系为一系列应用的高度相关材料的创建和改进提供了关键的指导和明确的重点。特殊分子二氧化硅由该项目的工业合作伙伴制造，由一个八角硅基笼组成，承载一个或多个规定的功能基团，产生一种新型的创新分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料，结合了透明度（光学清晰度）和提高的强度和断裂韧性，用于特殊安全用途。通过使用多种互补的方法，该项目探索了分子二氧化硅/磷酸盐玻璃基纳米复合材料的结构、流变特性和热机械行为的分子起源，从而有可能定义在纳米长度尺度上发展的机制，影响微观尺度，以及影响宏观尺度。由于纳米多面体低聚硅氧烷（POSS）将纳米填料的性质与化学精度相结合，并且分子硅笼长度尺度（即1.5 nm）接近磷酸盐玻璃的短程结构，因此推测其独特的相互作用产生了对纳米复合材料性能（如强度，断裂韧性和透光率）的最佳控制。

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.