Novel Lightweight Syntactic Foams Made of Nanoengineered Microballoons: Synthesis, Processing and Characterization

本研究项目旨在确定相关的材料加工参数，扩大碳纳米管涂层填料生产的可行性，以创造相对较大的样品，并开发/扩展合适的力学表征方法，以研究复合材料在静态和动态加载条件下的行为。创造和表征新颖的，具有成本效益的，轻质的，结构化的，颗粒填充的聚合物泡沫是本研究的主要目标。由此产生的基于微波辐射的复合材料可以提供分层材料，其中碳纳米管（CNT）直接生长在空心微填料上，通过增强拉伸/断裂特性而不影响压缩性能，规避团聚效应和/或改善电学特性，从而提高填料锚定在基体上的能力。如果成功，可以想象，在此研究的基础上，可以引入一类新的工程颗粒复合材料。多功能轻量化泡沫结构及其复合材料在航空航天、交通运输和海洋工业等多种工程应用中具有重要价值。拟议研究的其他社会效益包括研究生在材料加工和表征的多学科领域的教育。来自弱势群体的学生将通过奥本大学现有的校园项目被吸引到这项研究中来。此外，K-12外展资源将用于暴露学生的显微镜和机械测试方面。为了吸引国内学生参加奥本大学的工程专业，将在研究生招聘活动期间进行展示。研究结果将通过专题讨论会和档案出版物进行传播。

This research project aims to identify the related material processing parameters, feasibility of scaling up CNT coated filler production to create relatively large samples and develop/extend suitable mechanical characterization methods to study the behavior of the composites under static and dynamic loading conditions. Creation and characterization of novel, cost-effective, lightweight, structured, particle-filled polymer foams is the primary goal of this research. The resulting composites based on microwave radiation could offer hierarchical materials where carbon nanotubes (CNT) grown directly on hollow microfillers improve the ability of the filler to anchor to the matrix by enhancing tensile/fracture characteristics without compromising the compression properties, circumventing agglomeration effects, and/or improving electrical characteristics.If successful, it is conceivable that a new class of engineered particulate composites can be introduced based on this research. Multifunctional lightweight structural foams and composites are of great value in a variety of engineering applications including aerospace, transportation and marine industries. Additional societal benefits of the proposed research include education of graduate students in multidisciplinary areas of processing and characterization of materials. Students from underrepresented groups will be attracted to this research through existing on-campus programs at Auburn. Also K-12 outreach resources will be utilized to expose students to aspects of microscopy and mechanical testing. A display will be presented during graduate recruitment events to attract domestic students to engineering programs at Auburn. The findings of the research will be disseminated through topical symposia as well as archival publications.