Collaborative Research: Rational Design Of Polymeric Microtruss Structures As Highly-Ordered Multifunctional Coatings

合作研究：合理设计聚合物微结构作为高度有序的多功能涂层Vladimir V.Tsukruk，Edwin L.Thomas材料科学与工程系，爱荷华州立大学，Ames IA材料科学与工程系，麻省理工学院，剑桥，马萨诸塞州本项目的目标是研究简单桥状(专业术语为桁架)形状的塑料结构。到目前为止，还没有人制造出真正微型的东西。这些结构将是如此之小，以至于你的眼睛看不到桁架的各个部分。为了制造这样小的东西，人们需要使用一种特殊类型的塑料，称为光致抗蚀剂。只需将光照射到光致抗蚀剂上，就可以制作出形状。这些微小的塑料桁架是开放的，它们的部件之间有很大的空间，就像人们看到的作为手机塔和桥梁部件的梁一样。因此，该结构的整体重量相当低。这些新型的微型轻质桁架将非常坚固，可以用来制造无人驾驶飞行器(UAV)等设备，也可以制造士兵穿的防弹衣。为了进行这项研究，博士生必须学习材料设计和工程方面的前沿基础研究。参与该项目的教授将继续努力，通过与几个招聘项目合作，帮助未被充分代表的高中生进入佐治亚理工学院和麻省理工学院，与研究生一起制作和测试材料，从而增加攻读科学和工程高级学位的学生的数量。

ABSTRACTPROPOSAL : 0556037 DATE : 08/07/2006 COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: RATIONAL DESIGN OF POLYMERIC MICROTRUSS STRUCTURES AS HIGHLY-ORDERED MULTIFUNCTIONAL COATINGS Vladimir V. Tsukruk, Edwin L. Thomas Materials Science and Engineering Department, Iowa State University, Ames IA Materials Science and Engineering Department, MIT, Cambridge, MA The goal of this project is to study plastic structures that are in the shape of simple bridge-like (technical term is a truss) shapes. So far no one has made these things at really tiny sizes. These structures would be so small one cant see the individual parts of the truss with your eyes. In order to make such small things one needs to use a special type of plastic, called a photoresist. By simply shining light on the photoresist it is possible to make the shapes. These tiny plastic trusses are open and have a lot of space between their parts, just like the beams one sees that are the parts of cell phone towers and bridges. Hence the overall weight of the structure is quite low. These new kinds of tiny light weight trusses will be very strong and can be used to make devices such as unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and also to make body armor for soldiers to wear. To do the research Ph.D. students have to learn cutting-edge fundamental research in materials design and engineering. The professors working on this project will continue their efforts to increase the number of students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering by working with several recruiting programs that help underrepresented high school students for summer internships to come to Georgia Tech and MIT to work alongside the graduate students to make and test the materials.