US-Egypt Cooperative Research: Nano-rubber Toughened Epoxy for Energy Absorbing Composites

1103601该项目支持阿尔伯克基新墨西哥大学的Mahmoud Reda Taha博士和开罗埃及石油研究所的Usama F.Kandil的合作研究项目。他们计划研究纳米橡胶增韧环氧吸能复合材料。本研究旨在引入新一代具有增强吸能功能的多尺度纤维增强聚合物(FRP)复合材料。我们建议使用功能化的纳米颗粒来改变用于制造FRP复合材料的聚合物基质的微观结构。提出的微观结构变化将把聚合物基质转化为一种新的纳米复合材料，当与增强纤维一起使用时，将产生具有增强能量吸收的多尺度FRP复合材料。新的多尺度玻璃钢将能够扩大玻璃钢在高应变率载荷下的应用，这些应用通常受当前玻璃钢复合材料的有限韧性/能量吸收和断裂韧性的制约。这项研究基于UNM团队在2010年Kandil博士为期六个月的访问期间获得的经验，在访问期间，他们获得了合成功能化聚烯烃橡胶纳米颗粒所需的所有设备，并成功生产了新的纳米复合材料。这项新的工作集中在不同长度尺度和不同湿热条件下的纳米复合材料和新型玻璃钢复合材料的合成、制备和测试。这项工作本质上是多学科的，需要埃及和美国两家PI在聚合物化学、聚合物表征、复合材料制造和测试方面的专业知识。智能优势：该研究旨在通过平衡混合功能性聚烯烃橡胶(EP)纳米颗粒和蒙脱土(o-MMT)纳米颗粒来增强用于生产FRP复合材料的聚合物树脂的能量吸收。这种新型的增韧纳米复合材料将用于生产新一代具有增强能量吸收的玻璃钢复合材料。虽然使用硬质和软质纳米粒子来制备增韧聚合物纳米复合材料并不是什么新鲜事，但将这些纳米粒子功能化并使用这种增韧聚合物纳米复合材料来生产多尺度玻璃钢是一种新方法，可以显著提高玻璃钢复合材料的能量吸收和断裂韧性。这项研究将有助于我们进一步了解改性聚合物基质在改变FRP复合材料的能量吸收和断裂韧性方面所起的作用。广泛的影响：该项目将通过吸引少数族裔(西班牙裔和美洲原住民)本科生进入结构复合材料领域的土木工程研究，帮助丰富UNM的研究环境。美派计划努力吸引来自代表不足的群体的美国公民学生参与这个项目，其中包括女性、西班牙裔和美洲原住民。2010年秋天，美国-国际和平协会开始与北卡罗来纳大学巴伦西亚分校合作，那里50%以上的学生是少数族裔学生。这一新的合作邀请US-Pi和他的两名研究生每学期访问巴伦西亚校区一次，并就工程研究发表演讲，以吸引顶尖本科生到新墨西哥州大学工程学院进行研究。由北卡罗来纳大学巴伦西亚分校提名的两名本科生将加入国际和平协会的实验室。计划从2011年秋季开始，巴伦西亚校区的这两名学生中的一名将由这笔助学金资助他/她获得S硕士学位。此外，拟议的研究将对EPRI的研究和学术环境产生重大影响(埃及)。EPRI拥有15个研究和服务中心，拥有312名研究人员。美国-PI将参加2012年夏季和2013年夏季在EPRI举行的年度短期课程。这门简短的课程将集中于聚合物复合材料的多尺度力学表征。这一短期课程将为两位PI提供一个与EPRI年轻研究人员互动的绝佳机会。最后，EPRI的一名从事该项目的研究生将访问UNM，并加入美国-PI实验室六个月，接受关于玻璃钢复合材料制造和测试以及聚合物纳米复合材料的纳米压痕的培训。这一建议得到了美国-埃及联合基金计划的支持，其中美国国家科学基金会支持美方，埃及政府资助埃及方。

1103601 This project supports a cooperative research project by Dr. Mahmoud Reda Taha, University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and Usama F. Kandil, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Cairo. They plan to study Nano-rubber Toughened Epoxy for Energy Absorbing Composites. The research aims at introducing a new generation of multi-scale fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites with enhanced energy absorption. We suggest altering the microstructure of the polymer matrix used in making FRP composites using functionalized nanoparticles. The proposed microstructural change will convert the polymer matrix to a new nanocomposite that when used with reinforcing fibers will produce a multi-scale FRP composite with enhanced energy absorption. The new multi-scale FRP will enable expanding the use of FRP in applications typically governed by the limited toughness/energy absorption and fracture toughness of current FRP composites when subjected to high strain rate loading. This research builds on the experience the UNM team gained during a six-month visit by Dr. Kandil in 2010, during which they acquired all equipment necessary to synthesize functionalized polyolefin rubber nanoparticles and successfully produced new nanocomposites. This new work is focused on synthesis, fabrication and testing of the nanocomposite and the new FRP composite at a variety of length scales and under different hygrothermal conditions. The work is multidisciplinary in nature requiring the expertise of the two PIs from Egypt and the US on polymer chemistry, polymer characterization, composite fabrication and testing.Intellectual Merits: The research aims at enhancing the energy absorption of the polymer resin used to produce FRP composites using a balanced mix of functional polyolefin rubber (EP) nanoparticles andmontmorillonite (o-mmt) nanoparticles. This new toughened nanocomposite will be used to produce anew generation of FRP composites with enhanced energy absorption. While the use of hard and softnanoparticles in producing toughened polymer nanocomposites is not new and has been reported in theliterature, functionalization of these nanoparticles and using this toughened polymer nanocomposite toproduce multi-scale FRP is new and can lead to significant enhancement in the energy absorption andfracture toughness of FRP composites. The research will contribute to further our understanding on the role of a modified polymer matrix plays in changing the energy absorption and fracture toughness of FRP composites.Broader Impact: The project will help enrich the research environment at UNM by attracting minority (Hispanic and Native American) undergraduate students to Civil Engineering research in the field of structural composites. The US-PI plans efforts to attract US citizen students from underrepresented groups including Women, Hispanics and Native Americans to work on this project. In Fall 2010, the US-PI started a collaborative effort with UNM Valencia campus where more than 50% of students are minority students. This new collaboration extends an invitation to the US-PI and two of his graduate students to visit the Valencia campus once each semester and give presentations on engineering research to attract top undergraduate students to conduct research at the UNM School of Engineering. Two undergraduate students nominated by UNM Valencia campus will join the PI's laboratory. It is planned that one of these two students from the Valencia campus will be funded by this grant toward his/her Master?s degree starting in Fall 2011. Furthermore, the proposed research will have a significant impact on the research and academic environments at EPRI (Egypt). EPRI houses 15 research and service centers and is the home of 312 researchers. The US-PI will participate in an annual short course to be held at EPRI in Summer 2012 and Summer 2013. This short course will be focused on multiscale mechanical characterization of polymer composites. This short course will provide an excellent opportunity for both PIs to interact with young researchers at EPRI. Finally, one graduate student at EPRI working on this project will visit UNM and join the US-PI laboratory for six month receiving training on FRP composite fabrication and testing as well as on nanoindentation of polymer nanocomposites. This proposal is supported under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program where NSF supports the US side and the Government of Egypt funds the Egyptian side.