PHYSICAL

1
PHYSICAL MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER
NANOCOMPOSITES STATUS REPORT

• March 15, 2002
• Georgina B. Higginbotham
• Dr. Richard Chung , Advisor

2
OVERVIEW

• Review of Project
• Project Objectives
• Phase I
• Phase II
• Time Table
• Conclusion

3
REVIEW OF PROJECT

• Simulation of two manufacturing processes
• -Melt compounding
• -Polymerization
• Use of two different polymer matrices
• -Thermoset Shell EPON Epoxy
• -Thermoplastic polypropylene
• Two inorganic materials
• - Nanocor I30.E a dimension of 1.5nm
• - Cloisite 15A a dimension of 3.15 nm

4
REVIEW OF PROJECT (contd)

• Three different weight percents of inorganic
  materials will be used
• - 0 wt. control samples
• - 3 wt.
• - 5 wt.
• Comparison of methods to determine which process
  yields most significant results
• Project is to be completed in remaining 8 weeks
• Stepping- stone for further study development
  of nanocomposites

5
PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• To conduct an extensive study on existing
  manufacturing processes
• To simulate two processes using an epoxy
  thermosetting matrix and a polypropylene
  thermoplastic matrix
• To evaluate certain properties such as chemical
  composition, glass transition, hardness, and
  tensile properties
• To optimize a process by which thermoset or
  thermoplastic nanocomposites can be produced

6
PHASE I

• Consists of research, design, process
  simulation
• Accomplished Tasks
• - Completed extensive research of
• manufacturing processes Fall 2002
• - Determined process types
• - Chose materials
• - Materials ordered and received
• Problems Encountered
• - Design, production, modification of mold
• necessary to meet ASTM D638 Standard and
• quantity necessary for statistical analysis

7
PHASE I (contd)

• - Designed mold as of February 1, 2002
• - Estimated two weeks of production
• - Actual time four weeks

8
PHASE I (contd)

• - Completed mold February 28th
• - Modified mold March 1st

Top Plate
Center Plate
Bottom Plate
9
PHASE I (contd)

• - Completed several control sample trial
• runs
• - Bubbles and holes in Epoxy

Trial Control Samples
Bubbles Holes in Epoxy
10
PHASE I (contd)

• Tasks in Progress
• - Production of epoxy thermoset
• nanocomposites
• - Trial runs of polypropylene samples
• - Completion of samples by March 23rd
• Tasks to be Accomplished
• - Evaluation of both nanocomposite and pure
• polymer test samples

11
PHASE II

• Consists of optimizing a manufacturing processs
  using the determined parameters from Phase I
• Smaller set of samples will be produced
  evaluated using the same methods in Phase I
• Comparison of data and analysis will be made
• This Phase will take approximately four weeks

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TIME TABLE
Phase I Schedule
Phase II Schedule
13
CONCLUSION

• Overall progress has been made
• Progress slower than anticipated
• Schedule has little flexibility
• Project can still be completed provided samples
  yield meaningful results

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THANK YOU!