Controlled Crumpling of Polymer Thin Films and Nanocomposites

聚合物薄膜和纳米复合材料的受控皱缩

• 批准号: 0907219
• 负责人: Alfred Crosby
• 金额: $ 32.4万
• 依托单位: University of Massachusetts Amherst
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-06-01 至 2012-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0907219&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Controlled; Crumpling; Polymer; Thin; Films

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe physical properties of thin polymer films are critical for the development of numerous technologies, ranging from alternative energy sources to ?smart? coatings. In the thin film regime, the size scale of individual molecules is commensurate with the film?s thickness; therefore, the inter-molecular and intra-molecular mechanisms that define a material property are influenced by surface properties. Recent efforts in the polymer scientific community have focused on the impact of confinement on properties such as the glass transition temperature and elastic modulus, but relatively little is known on the impact of geometric confinement on properties related to non-linear deformation. The proposed research will use novel methods to fold and crumple thin polymer films, while quantifying the energy focusing and strain localizing processes involved in these non-linear mechanics. The specific research plan includes three primary efforts: 1) the folding and crumpling of homogenous, thin polymer films; 2) the folding and crumpling of nanostructured polymer films; and 3) the characterization of crumpled surface properties. These efforts will be distinguished from recent research on crumpling by studying films with molecular-scale thickness and combining crumpling mechanics with the properties of pre-patterned substrates to control long-range order in crumpled sheet morphologies. Additionally, the energy focusing processes of folding will be used to assemble nanoscale components, including tailored inorganic nanoparticles. The fundamental knowledge of folding and crumpling gained through this research not only will provide insight into materials properties at molecular length scales, but also will lead to advanced concepts for controlling the morphology and structure of thin polymer films for advanced applications. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe proposed research is focused on developing novel methods to fold and crumple ultra-thin polymer films, which are only a few molecules thick. The results of this research will have broad impact, from providing new knowledge of how molecular assemblies respond to mechanical stress at the nanometer length scale to developing robust strategies for patterning surfaces in future applications, such as alternative energy source technologies. In addition to the research funded by this program, the research team will introduce an innovative program to involve high school students from diverse backgrounds in the creative aspects of scientific research. This program, the Materials Challenges Competition (MCC), will build upon existing programs that are common in undergraduate engineering disciplines (e.g. the solar powered vehicle competition) to initiate a materials competition among high school teams from the Western Massachusetts region. The implementation of this program will provide opportunities for students and the general public in Western Massachusetts to realize the importance of materials research in answering current technological challenges.

技术摘要聚合物薄膜的物理特性对于从替代能源到“智能”等众多技术的发展至关重要。涂料。 在薄膜状态下，单个分子的尺寸与薄膜的厚度相称。因此，定义材料特性的分子间和分子内机制受到表面特性的影响。 聚合物科学界最近的研究重点是限制对玻璃化转变温度和弹性模量等性能的影响，但对几何限制对非线性变形相关性能的影响知之甚少。 拟议的研究将使用新颖的方法来折叠和弄皱聚合物薄膜，同时量化这些非线性力学中涉及的能量聚焦和应变局部化过程。 具体研究计划包括三项主要工作：1）均质聚合物薄膜的折叠和弄皱； 2）纳米结构聚合物薄膜的折叠和弄皱； 3) 褶皱表面特性的表征。这些努力将与最近关于起皱的研究不同，通过研究分子级厚度的薄膜，并将起皱力学与预图案化基材的特性相结合，以控制起皱片材形态的长程有序。此外，折叠的能量聚焦过程将用于组装纳米级组件，包括定制的无机纳米颗粒。通过这项研究获得的折叠和起皱的基础知识不仅可以深入了解分子长度尺度的材料特性，而且还将带来用于控制高级应用的聚合物薄膜的形态和结构的先进概念。非技术摘要拟议的研究重点是开发折叠和弄皱超薄聚合物薄膜的新方法，这些薄膜只有几个分子厚。 这项研究的结果将产生广泛的影响，从提供分子组装如何响应纳米长度尺度的机械应力的新知识，到为未来应用（例如替代能源技术）中的表面图案制定稳健的策略。 除了该计划资助的研究外，研究团队还将推出一项创新计划，让来自不同背景的高中生参与科学研究的创造性方面。 该项目名为“材料挑战赛”(MCC)，将以本科工程学科中常见的现有项目（例如太阳能汽车竞赛）为基础，在马萨诸塞州西部地区的高中团队之间发起材料竞赛。 该计划的实施将为马萨诸塞州西部的学生和公众提供机会，让他们认识到材料研究在应对当前技术挑战方面的重要性。