Investigation of Drying Mechanisms

该研究涉及干燥和固化机制，最终在复杂的双连续材料，如溶胶-凝胶和某些聚合物混合物。目标是一种数学机制描述，说明出现的应力状态，以及决定缺陷形成的因素。干燥速率和水分或溶剂分布通过实验观察。测量水分分布。压力是可以测量的。通过数学理论和测试，将结果应用于涂料干燥和固化工艺的设计、优化和控制。最后，理论的简化使设计方程更易于应用。本项目为“工科本科生创意奖”资助项目。

The research deals with the drying and curing mechanisms, ultimately in complex bicontinuous materials like sol-gel and certain polymer blends. An objective is a mathematical mechanistic description that accounts for stress states that arise, and what determines defect formation. Drying rates and moisture or solvent distributions are observed experimentally. Moisture distributions are measured. Stresses are measured. After the work on mathematical theory and testing, the results are applied to design, optimization, and control drying and curing processes for coatings. Finally simplification of the theory results in more easily applied design equations. This project is one supported under the Creativity Awards for Undergraduate Engineering Students.