GOALI/Collaborative Research: Fabrication of Ultra-light Multifunctional Nanofoams from Polymer Nanocomposites

GOALI/合作研究：用聚合物纳米复合材料制造超轻多功能纳米泡沫

• 批准号: 0727079
• 负责人: Weihong (Katie) Zhong
• 金额: $ 12万
• 依托单位: North Dakota State University Fargo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-09-15 至 2007-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0727079&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: GOALI; Collaborative; Research; Fabrication; Ultra

The goal of this research is to explore an innovative fabrication approach and to study fundamental nano-scale phenomena in multifunctional nanofoams from polymeric nanocomposites. Such nanocomposite nanofoam materials will have many desirable properties, such as ultra-high strength-to-weight ratio, high electrical conductivity, and high acoustic damping coefficient, which have not been attainable using the state-of-the-art foaming technology. Although nanofoams from polymer nanocomposites promise unprecedented material properties, a manufacturing process that can be scaled up to produce multifunctional nanofoams for large scale applications is not currently available. This research will explore a cost-effective and environmentally benign approach to creating multifunctional nanofoams from polymer nanocomposites using a stress-induced gas foaming technique. The proposed research is a well-planned interdisciplinary effort toward scientific discovery. Researchers from both academia and industry will work closely together to ensure its success. The proposed research is greatly significant for the science and engineering of nanomanufacturing, as well as many industrial applications that are crucial to the national economy. Polymer nanocomposite nanofoams will lead to a class of novel materials that are critically needed for many industrial applications, such as new generation commercial airplanes that are far more fuel efficient and critical windmill structures for renewable energy. The material enhancements offered by nanocomposite nanofoams would enable great weight reduction and multifunctionality, while still maintaining or even improving the overall structural performance. The added attractiveness of nanocomposite nanofoams is that they can be tailored to perform multiple functions, such as load bearing, electro-static preventing, electro-magnetic shielding, acoustic damping, and eventually even sensing. The proposed research will contribute to the industry competitiveness, creating new job opportunities, and benefiting society at large. It will also provide great opportunities to establish long-term collaboration between academia and industry, develop research infrastructure across campuses, and involve students at all levels, including K-12, undergraduate, and graduate, as well as woman and minority students.

这项研究的目的是探索一种创新的制造方法，并研究聚合物纳米复合材料多功能纳米泡沫的基本纳米尺度现象。这种纳米复合纳米泡沫材料将具有许多理想的性能，例如超高的强度重量比、高导电性和高声阻尼系数，这是使用最先进的发泡技术无法实现的。尽管聚合物纳米复合材料制成的纳米泡沫具有前所未有的材料性能，但目前还没有一种可以扩大规模生产用于大规模应用的多功能纳米泡沫的制造工艺。这项研究将探索一种经济高效且环境友好的方法，利用应力诱导气体发泡技术从聚合物纳米复合材料中制造多功能纳米泡沫。拟议的研究是一项精心策划的跨学科努力，旨在实现科学发现。来自学术界和工业界的研究人员将密切合作，以确保其成功。所提出的研究对于纳米制造的科学和工程以及对国民经济至关重要的许多工业应用具有重要意义。聚合物纳米复合材料纳米泡沫将产生一类许多工业应用急需的新型材料，例如燃油效率更高的新一代商用飞机和可再生能源的关键风车结构。纳米复合材料纳米泡沫提供的材料增强功能将极大地减轻重量并实现多功能性，同时仍然保持甚至提高整体结构性能。纳米复合材料纳米泡沫的额外吸引力在于，它们可以定制以执行多种功能，例如承载、防静电、电磁屏蔽、声阻尼，甚至最终传感。拟议的研究将有助于提高行业竞争力，创造新的就业机会，造福整个社会。它还将为学术界和工业界之间建立长期合作、开发跨校园的研究基础设施以及让各个级别的学生（包括 K-12、本科生和研究生以及女性和少数民族学生）参与提供良好的机会。