MRI: Acquisition of a Multifunctional Rheometer with High Temperature, Dynamic Mechanical Analysis and Tribological Testing Capabilities for Research and Education

该主要研究仪器（MRI）奖项支持购买配备定制极端环境测量套件的多驱动流变仪。该仪器将成为世界上最全面的流变仪系统之一，具有以前无法实现的测试能力。它将使人们能够研究增材制造、热化学储能、药物输送、软机器人和安静无人机推进系统中使用的各种材料的基本材料特性。最先进的流变仪系统将支持代顿大学和中央州立大学（一所当地历史悠久的黑人大学）的众多教师和本科生/研究生研究人员的研究、教学和推广活动。该仪器将作为共享设施使用，扩大大代顿地区的材料表征能力，并为下一代科学家和工程师提供教育机会。将开发实践和虚拟教学模块，以解释流变学/流变学的概念和应用，本科生在工程课程，代表性不足的少数民族夏令营，高中学生和暑期本科研究人员。Boonshoft Museum of Discovery的YouTube频道还将提供公共宣传视频和播客，直接教育K-12儿童流变学在科学和工程中的作用。配有定制测量套件的流变仪系统将提供最先进的测量分辨率、极端环境控制和前所未有的测量功能多样性。该工具将用于推进三个核心领域的研究。1)致密和分散的颗粒系统：高温剪切单元和环境室将导致在高达1000 °C的温度下对陶瓷和金属粉末的颗粒间摩擦、碰撞和团聚的相对影响进行实验表征，这是增材制造原料和热化学储能介质的相关操作条件。2a）复杂流体：磁流变学，显微镜，界面流变学和拉曼光谱模块将允许现场实验研究和流变结构复杂的流体特性，如聚合物凝胶或乳液的表征。2b）软材料：定制动态力学分析模块将使人们能够从根本上了解用于增材制造的自修复、光固化弹性体在以前无法达到的加载条件、应变率、温度和湿度范围内的力学行为。3)摩擦学测量和分析：摩擦学和拉曼套件将支持材料转移和摩擦化学转化的现场观察，从而发现用于设计新型静音无人机和高超音速系统的新界面滑动机制。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award supports the acquisition of a multi-drive rheometer equipped with custom, extreme-environment measurement suites. The instrument will be one of the most comprehensive rheometer systems in the world, with a previously unattainable range of testing capabilities. It will enable research on fundamental material properties for a wide range of materials used in additive manufacturing, thermochemical energy storage, drug delivery, soft robotics, and quiet drone propulsion systems. The state-of-the-art rheometry system will support the research, teaching, and outreach activities of numerous faculty and undergraduate/graduate student researchers at the University of Dayton and Central State University, a local historically black university. The instrument will be accessible as a shared facility, expanding the material characterization capabilities of the greater Dayton region and supporting educational opportunities for the next generation of scientists and engineers. Hands-on and virtual instructional modules will be developed to explain rheometry/rheology concepts and applications to undergraduate students in engineering courses, underrepresented minority summer camps, high school students, and summer undergraduate researchers. Public outreach videos and podcasts will also be made available to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery YouTube channel, directly educating K-12 children about the role of rheology in science and engineering.The rheometer system with custom measurement suites will provide access to state-of-the-art measurement resolution, extreme environmental control, and an unprecedented diversity of measurement capabilities. The instrument will be used to advance research in three core areas. 1) Dense and dispersed particle systems: The high-temperature shear cell and environmental chamber will lead to experimental characterization of the relative impact of inter-particle frictional, collisional, and agglomeration of ceramic and metallic powders for temperatures up to 1000 °C, operating conditions of interest for both additive manufacturing feedstocks and thermochemical energy storage media. 2a) Complex fluids: Magnetorheology, microscopy, interfacial rheology, and Raman spectroscopy modules will allow in-situ experimental studies and characterization of rheo-structural complex fluid properties such as polymer gels or emulsions. 2b) Soft materials: The custom dynamic mechanical analysis module will enable a fundamental understanding of the mechanical behavior of self-healing, photo-curable elastomers for additive manufacturing over a previously unattainable range of loading conditions, strain rates, temperatures, and humidities. 3) Tribology measurement and analysis: The tribology and Raman suites will support the in-situ observation of material transfer and tribo-chemical conversions, leading to the discovery of new interfacial sliding mechanisms used to design novel quiet drones and hypersonic systems.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.