Planning Visits Concerning Electric and Electro-mechanical Properties of CNT-polymer Nanocomposites: An Experimental and Multiscale Modeling Approach

计划访问有关碳纳米管-聚合物纳米复合材料的电气和机电性能：实验和多尺度建模方法--来自弗吉尼亚理工学院和州立大学的Gary D.Seidel，OISE-1019395ABSTRACT该奖项支持Seidel教授和他的两名研究生对墨西哥的两次计划访问。这些研究人员将两次前往墨西哥梅里达的尤卡坦公民调查中心(CICY)。访问的目的是进行初步实验，并为研究由含有单壁碳纳米管(CNT)的聚合物组成的复合材料准备研究建议，CNT通过其压阻提供传感能力。这种材料可用作民用结构以及汽车和飞机中变形和损坏的指示器。计划于2010年和2011年夏季对梅里达进行两次访问，考察PET-CNT纳米复合材料薄膜和乙烯基酯-碳纳米管复合材料。他们的墨西哥合作伙伴同样将利用CONACyT的资助前往弗吉尼亚理工大学进行联合研究活动。这次计划访问旨在推动在聚合物-碳纳米管纳米复合材料、它们的合成和加工以及它们作为结构退化和损伤传感器的能力方面的合作。这是目前纳米技术应用中的一个感兴趣的话题，在智力上既有挑战性，也有回报。这项工作应该揭示有趣的宏观机电效应，以及它们是如何依赖于微观组成和结构的。在促进参与者之间国际研究合作的同时，该项目将使这两名来自弗吉尼亚理工大学的研究生与他们的墨西哥同行建立专业关系。成功开发用于监测结构健康的有效和廉价的材料和设备可通过防止灾难性故障而产生重大好处。

Planning Visit Concerning Electric and Electro-mechanical Properties of CNT-polymer Nanocomposites: An Experimental and Multiscale Modeling ApproachGary D. Seidel, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, OISE - 1019395ABSTRACTThis award supports two planning visits to Mexico by Prof. Seidel and two of his graduate students. These researchers will travel twice to the Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan (CICY) in Merida, Mexico. The purpose of the visits is to conduct preliminary experiments and to prepare research proposals for study of composite materials composed of polymers containing single-wall carbon nanotubes (CNT) that provide a sensing capability through their piezoresistivity. Such materials may find use as indicators of deformation and damage in civil structures as well as in automobiles and aircraft. The two planning visits to Merida are scheduled for the summers of 2010 and 2011 to investigate PET-CNT nanocomposite films and vinyl ester-CNT composites. Their Mexican collaborators will similarly travel to Virginia Tech with CONACyT funding to pursue the joint research activities.This planning visit aims to advance a collaboration in the study of polymer-CNT nanocomposites, their synthesis and processing, and their ability to serve as sensors of structural deterioration and damage. This is a current topic of interest in the application of nanotechnology and is intellectually both challenging and rewarding. The work should reveal interesting macroscopic electro-mechanical effects and how they depend on the microscale composition and structure. While promoting international research collaboration among the participants, this project will enable the two graduate students from Virginia Tech to establish professional relationships with their Mexican peers. Success in the development of effective and inexpensive materials and devices for monitoring structural health could have significant benefits by preventing catastrophic failures.