Nanostructured Filler Reinforced Elastomer Composites

该博士项目将开发新型弹性体复合材料，用于石油和天然气以及地热钻井作业中使用的工具。弹性体被用作动、静态密封，在极端环境下承受非常大的应变和快速的循环载荷。弹性体必须在极端条件下运行，包括高温和高压环境，以及经常暴露在侵蚀性化学环境中。该项目计划确定和表征合适的纳米增强系统，并在增强材料的形态和所得到的复合材料的机械和物理性能之间建立联系。

This PhD project will to develop novel elastomer composites for use in tools used in oil and gas and geothermal drilling operations. Elastomers are used as dynamic and static seals which are subjected to very large strains and rapid cyclical loading under extreme environments. Elastomers have to operate in extreme conditions that include high temperature and pressure regimes as well as encountering constant exposure to aggressive chemical environments. This project plans to identify and characterise suitable nano-reinforcement systems and establish the link between the reinforcing material morphology and the mechanical and physical properties of the resulting composite materials.