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Controlled Thermal Expansion Polymer Nanocomposites Cora Lind, The University of Toledo, DMR 0545517.
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Controlled Thermal Expansion Polymer NanocompositesCora Lind, The University of Toledo, DMR 0545517 Polymers are frequently used as protective layers or interconnects between other materials. Most polymers expand a lot more than the materials they are attached to when the temperature is raised. This can lead to cracking at the interface between the two components. Negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials can be incorporated in polymers to form composites with controlled thermal expansion properties that match other materials. Our group his developed routes to prepare nano-sized NTE materials, and procedures for preparing high quality NTE/polymer nanocomposites with reduced expansion coefficients. Chemical modifications of the nanoparticles aid in promoting strong interactions between the particles and the polymer matrix. Electron microscope images of nano-particles of NTE material ZrW2O8. Electron microscope image of ZrW2O8 particles in a polymer matrix.
Research Opportunities Around The WorldCora Lind, The University of Toledo, DMR 0545517 Over the past year, three graduate students, two undergraduate researchers, and a summer high school student (ACS Project SEED) worked on projects involving negative thermal expansion materials. All of these students presented their work at regional, national, or international level conferences. For some of them, this was the first opportunity to connect with the wider scientific community and network. One of the undergraduate researchers spent the summer on a new, collaborative research project at the University of Siegen in Germany. She enjoyed both the scientific and historical/educational opportunities during her trip. High school student Akena Latigo explains his summer research to his mother at CERMACS 2009, and poses with his coworkers Hassan Baiz (undergraduate researcher) and Nathan Banek (graduate student). Shannon Kraemer (undergrad) spent the summer working at the University of Siegen and traveling Europe afterwards.