GOALI: Dynamic Response of Rigid, Foamed Biocomposites

微孔发泡聚合物是通过在聚合物中使用分解气体来生产的，该分解气体在刚性轻质材料中留下微孔空隙。这项工作的一个目的是加强这些材料与植物纤维，因为这样的复合材料已被发现具有高耗散，泡沫状的动态响应，在一个刚性，轻质的形式。已经发现天然纤维的空隙以及细胞和血管解剖结构在这种行为中起作用。该项目的目标是描述生物复合材料在动态载荷下的微观结构行为，并将其与宏观结构响应联系起来。这些知识对于微孔生物复合材料是不可用的，并且将能够利用底层材料的自然特性，并导致定制的多功能材料系统。基于聚合物结晶和传统复合材料的想法，将进行有关微观结构响应，建模，显微镜，微孔加工和测试的基础研究。潜在的应用范围从汽车和市政交通系统中的冲击安全材料到基础设施材料，如专用地板，护栏，抗震板和复合板，以及不太明显的电子保护和生物医学支架。材料的潜在大规模用户的参与可以帮助降低材料的成本，并努力克服阻碍较小制造商使用新材料的财务惯性。目前，许多候选应用都采用石油基材料。用环保的替代品替代少量的这些材料，就可以产生显著的环境效益。该项目包括一名研究生的教育，REU学生和教育推广到幼儿园- 12名学生。

Microcellular foamed polymers are produced by the use of a decomposing gas in the polymer which leaves behind microcellular voids within stiff, lightweight materials. An objective of the work is to reinforce these materials with plant fibers since such composites have been found to possess highly dissipative, foam-like dynamic response in a rigid, lightweight form. The voids as well as the cellular and vascular anatomy of the natural fibers have been found to play a role in this behavior. The goal of the project is to describe the micro-structural behavior of the biocomposites under dynamic loading, and to connect it to macro-structural response. This knowledge is unavailable for microcellular biocomposites, and will enable the exploitation of the natural properties of the underlying materials and lead to tailored, multi-functional material systems. Building on ideas from polymer crystallization and traditional composites, fundamental research will be conducted concerning micro-structural response, modeling, microscopy, microcellular processing and testing. Potential applications range from impact safety materials in automobiles and municipal transportation systems to infrastructural materials like specialized flooring, guard rails, seismic panels, and composite slabs, and to less obvious ones like electronics protection and biomedical scaffolds. The participation of a potential large scale user of the materials can help lower the cost of the materials and work to overcome the financial inertia that hinders the use of new materials by smaller manufacturers. Many candidate applications are presently met with petroleum-based materials. The replacement of just a moderate amount of these materials with environmentally-friendly alternatives can produce significant environmental benefit. The project includes education of a graduate student, REU students and educational outreach to kindergarten - 12 students.