Continuum-Based Modeling of the Mechanical Behavior of Nanocomposites via Microstructure and Elasticity Theory for Solid Surfaces

在过去的几十年里，复合材料的使用彻底改变了工业的面貌。这可以归因于这样一个事实，即由于复合材料是由具有不同特性的不同材料制成的，因此它们可以专门设计用于关键的制造目标，包括增强的机械性能，耐环境性和节能。同样，纳米复合材料正在改变复合材料的世界，允许开发具有增强功能和扩展应用的新一代复合材料，从生物医学应用到增强结构材料，电子封装和环境保护。纳米复合材料是一种复合材料，其中具有纳米级尺寸（小于百万分之一米）的结构，例如纳米颗粒或纳米纤维，嵌入金属，陶瓷或聚合物基体中。 这种组合在纳米复合材料的各个组成部分之间产生协同作用，从而产生惊人的机械性能。例如，如果传统聚合物材料中嵌入的纳米颗粒少于1%（按重量计），则有可能设计出一种新的透明、柔性、导电聚合物。以同样的方式，我们可以设计新的多功能聚合物基纳米复合材料，具有更高的耐用性（耐磨性提高100倍），更高的韧性和强度以及更高的热稳定性。在价值数十亿美元的软包装行业中，聚合物纳米复合材料技术被用于提高包装性能和解决包装废物问题。 复合材料工程的发展一直依赖于数学模型，这些模型以低成本预测材料在某些机械和环境条件下的行为。这些模型传统上是基于一个特定的简化假设，即可以忽略材料的精细或微观结构。实验表明，当我们不必考虑接近材料精细结构尺寸的材料行为时，这种方法效果很好。不幸的是，这不是纳米复合材料的情况下，所涉及的长度尺度是如此之小，他们使传统的数学模型过时。 我的研究计划侧重于纳米复合材料的建模，通过开发新的数学模型，可以适应材料的精细结构，从而在纳米级相应的材料行为。这将大大提高我们设计和开发新纳米复合材料的能力。 这笔赠款将允许至少两名博士和三名硕士学生在这个令人兴奋和具有挑战性的多学科领域的培训。研究结果将有利于加拿大先进建筑材料、电子和信息技术领域的一系列先进技术公司。

Over the last few decades, the use of composite materials has revolutionized the face of industry. This can be attributed to the fact that since composites are made from different materials with distinct properties, they can be specifically designed for key manufacturing objectives including enhanced mechanical performance, environmental resistance and energy conservation. In the same way, nanocomposites are now transforming the world of composite materials allowing for the development of a new generation of composites with enhanced functionality and extended application ranging from biomedical applications to the enhancement of structural materials, electronic packaging and environmental protection. Nanocomposites are composite materials in which structures with nanoscale dimensions (smaller than a millionth of a meter), for example, nanoparticles or nanofibers, are embedded in a metal, ceramic or polymer base. This combination generates a synergy between the various constituent parts of the nanocomposite which leads to amazing mechanical properties. For example, if less than 1% (by weight) of nanoparticles is embedded in a traditional polymeric material, it becomes possible to design a new transparent, flexible, electrical conducting polymer. In the same way, we can design new multifunctional polymer-matrix nanocomposites with increased durability (100 times improved wear resistance), increased toughness and strength and increased thermal stability. In the multi-billion dollar flexible packaging industry, polymer nanocomposite technology is being used to enhance package performance and to address packaging waste. Advances in composites engineering have always relied on mathematical models which are used at low cost to predict material behavior under certain mechanical and environmental conditions. These models are traditionally based on a particular simplifying assumption that the fine or micro- structure of the material can be ignored. Experiments have shown that this works well when we never have to consider material behavior at dimensions close to those of the material's fine structure. Unfortunately, this is not the case for nanocomposites where the length scales involved are so small that they make traditional mathematical models obsolete. My research program focuses on the modeling of nanocomposite materials by developing new mathematical models that can accommodate the fine structure of materials and hence the corresponding material behavior at the nanoscale. This will greatly enhance our ability to design and develop new nanocomposites. This grant will allow for the training of at least two PhD and three MSc students in this exciting and challenging multidisciplinary area. The findings of the research will be beneficial to a range of Canadian advanced technology companies in advanced construction materials, electronics and information technology.