Continuum-Based Modeling of the Mechanical Behavior of Nanocomposites via Microstructure and Elasticity Theory for Solid Surfaces

在过去的几十年里，复合材料的使用彻底改变了工业的面貌。这可以归因于这样一个事实，即由于复合材料是由具有不同特性的不同材料制成的，它们可以针对关键的制造目标进行专门设计，包括增强机械性能、耐环境和节能。同样，纳米复合材料现在正在改变复合材料的世界，使新一代复合材料的开发具有更强的功能和更广泛的应用，从生物医学应用到结构材料、电子封装和环境保护的增强。纳米复合材料是将纳米尺度(小于百万分之一米)的结构(例如纳米颗粒或纳米纤维)嵌入金属、陶瓷或聚合物基座的复合材料。这种组合在纳米复合材料的不同组成部分之间产生了协同作用，从而产生了惊人的机械性能。例如，如果在传统的聚合物材料中嵌入的纳米颗粒不到1%(按重量计)，就有可能设计出一种新的透明、柔性、导电的聚合物。同样，我们可以设计新的多功能聚合物基纳米复合材料，具有更高的耐用性(耐磨性提高100倍)，更好的韧性和强度，以及更好的热稳定性。在价值数十亿美元的软包装行业，聚合物纳米复合材料技术正被用来提高包装性能和处理包装废物。*复合材料工程的进步一直依赖于低成本使用的数学模型来预测材料在特定机械和环境条件下的行为。这些模型传统上是基于一个特定的简化假设，即可以忽略材料的精细或微结构。实验表明，当我们不必在接近材料精细结构的维度上考虑材料行为时，这种方法效果很好。不幸的是，纳米复合材料的情况并非如此，因为所涉及的长度尺度如此之小，以至于它们使得传统的数学模型过时。*我的研究计划专注于纳米复合材料的建模，通过开发新的数学模型来适应材料的精细结构，从而在纳米尺度上适应相应的材料行为。这将极大地提高我们设计和开发新型纳米复合材料的能力。*这笔赠款将允许在这一令人兴奋和具有挑战性的多学科领域培训至少两名博士和三名硕士学生。这项研究的结果将有利于加拿大一系列先进技术公司在先进建筑材料、电子和信息技术领域的发展。

Over the last few decades, the use of composite materials has revolutionized the face of industry. This can be attributed to the fact that since composites are made from different materials with distinct properties, they can be specifically designed for key manufacturing objectives including enhanced mechanical performance, environmental resistance and energy conservation. In the same way, nanocomposites are now transforming the world of composite materials allowing for the development of a new generation of composites with enhanced functionality and extended application ranging from biomedical applications to the enhancement of structural materials, electronic packaging and environmental protection. Nanocomposites are composite materials in which structures with nanoscale dimensions (smaller than a millionth of a meter), for example, nanoparticles or nanofibers, are embedded in a metal, ceramic or polymer base. This combination generates a synergy between the various constituent parts of the nanocomposite which leads to amazing mechanical properties. For example, if less than 1% (by weight) of nanoparticles is embedded in a traditional polymeric material, it becomes possible to design a new transparent, flexible, electrical conducting polymer. In the same way, we can design new multifunctional polymer-matrix nanocomposites with increased durability (100 times improved wear resistance), increased toughness and strength and increased thermal stability. In the multi-billion dollar flexible packaging industry, polymer nanocomposite technology is being used to enhance package performance and to address packaging waste.*** *Advances in composites engineering have always relied on mathematical models which are used at low cost to predict material behavior under certain mechanical and environmental conditions. These models are traditionally based on a particular simplifying assumption that the fine or micro- structure of the material can be ignored. Experiments have shown that this works well when we never have to consider material behavior at dimensions close to those of the material's fine structure. Unfortunately, this is not the case for nanocomposites where the length scales involved are so small that they make traditional mathematical models obsolete.*** *My research program focuses on the modeling of nanocomposite materials by developing new mathematical models that can accommodate the fine structure of materials and hence the corresponding material behavior at the nanoscale. This will greatly enhance our ability to design and develop new nanocomposites.*** *This grant will allow for the training of at least two PhD and three MSc students in this exciting and challenging multidisciplinary area. The findings of the research will be beneficial to a range of Canadian advanced technology companies in advanced construction materials, electronics and information technology.