MRI: Acquisition of Equipment for Melt- and Solid-State Fabrication and Barrier Performance Evaluation of Polymer Nanocomposites

由该奖项资助的仪器将支持对固态剪切粉化(SSSP)的系统研究，以创建与使用传统熔体复合制造的聚合物纳米复合材料相比具有更好阻隔性能的聚合物纳米复合材料。创新的SSSP技术可以克服与传统技术相关的许多常见挑战，以生产具有良好分散和剥离的纳米填料(例如粘土、碳纳米管和石墨)的有效和稳定的纳米复合材料。因此，SSSP在促进纳米复合材料的基本结构-性能关系阐明和促进用于新的工程应用的优良杂化材料的开发方面具有巨大的潜力。本研究的主要目标是：(1)通过系统的参数研究，了解SSSP工艺参数与所得纳米复合材料的结构和性能之间的关系；(2)通过控制固态粉碎条件，开发适用于特定工业应用的新型高性能聚合物纳米复合材料；以及(3)通过与未改性聚合物和熔融复合纳米复合材料样品的直接比较，评估SSSP制备的纳米复合材料的形态和阻隔性能。该仪器包括一台标准规模的双螺杆挤出机/固态剪切粉碎机，它是为熔体或固态聚合物纳米复合材料的连续制造而定制设计的。该仪器还包括用于测量水蒸气和氧气渗透性的精密分析仪，用于输送聚合物树脂和纳米填料的颗粒和粉末喂料器，以及用于冷却、收集熔融复合挤出物并确定其大小的水槽/造粒机系统。该设备将与现有仪器结合使用，以进行拟议的研究，并支持两个PI的长期研究计划。此外，这些设备将增加代表不足群体的研究和教育机会，并促进巴克内尔校区内外的跨学科合作和外联。PI代表不同的工程学科，并将与来自不同理工科专业的学生合作。此外，这项研究的一部分涉及与一所研究I大学和一所完全以技术为重点的本科生机构建立多机构伙伴关系，从而促进交叉受精和促进仪器的共享使用。研究结果将向国际科学界和工程界传播，预计将引起潜在工业伙伴的兴趣。

The instrumentation funded by this award will support a systematic investigation of solid-state shear pulverization (SSSP) for creating polymer nanocomposites with improved barrier properties relative to those fabricated using conventional melt compounding. The innovative SSSP technique can overcome many of the common challenges associated with conventional techniques for producing effective and stable nanocomposites with well-dispersed and exfoliated nanofillers (e.g., clay, carbon nanotubes, and graphite). Thus, SSSP has significant potential to advance fundamental structure-property relationship elucidation in nanocomposites and facilitate development of superior hybrid materials for use in new engineering applications. The main objectives of this research are: (1) to understand the relationship between SSSP processing parameters and the structure and properties of the resulting nanocomposites via a systematic parametric study; (2) to develop novel high-performance polymer nanocomposites tailored for specific industrial applications by controlling the solid-state pulverization conditions; and (3) to evaluate the morphology and barrier properties of the nanocomposites created by SSSP via direct comparison with those of the unmodified polymer and nanocomposite specimens created by melt compounding. The instrumentation includes a bench-scale twin-screw extruder/solid-state shear pulverizer that is custom designed for continuous fabrication of polymer nanocomposites in the melt or solid state. The instrumentation also includes precision analyzers for measurement of water vapor and oxygen permeability, pellet and powder feeders for delivering polymer resin and nanofillers, and a water trough/pelletizer system to cool, collect, and size melt-compounded extrudate. This equipment will be used in conjunction with existing instruments to conduct the proposed research and support a long-term research program for both PIs. In addition, the equipment will enhance research and educational opportunities for underrepresented groups and facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborations and outreach both on and off the Bucknell campus. The PIs represent different engineering disciplines and will work together with students from different science and engineering concentrations. Moreover, a portion of the research involves a multi-institutional partnership with a Research I university and an exclusively undergraduate, technology-focused institution, thereby stimulating cross-fertilization and promoting shared use of the instrumentation. The outcomes of the research will be disseminated to the international science and engineering communities and are expected to attract interest from potential industrial partners.