CAREER: Rheology and Microstructure of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites

University Of Virginia Main Campus, Charlottesville VA

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT CTS-0134275 J. Oberhauser, University of Virginia The objective the proposed research is to study the rheology and microstructure of polymer-clay nanocomposites, a novel class of material whose properties combine elements of suspension rheology and non-Newtonian fluid mechanics. The research plan has three parts: (1) to understand the basic rheology of a well-characterized nanocomposite fluid as a function of a number of material properties, (2) to assess the ability of the clay platelets to function as nucleating sites for oriented crystal growth by using a mini-extrusion device, and (3) to develop constitutive theory based on the experimental results. The education plan consists of improving existing courses by including various media and implementing some newer pedagogical techniques, to introduce new courses, and to include undergraduates in research.