Polymer-Based Nanocomposites: An Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students Peggy Cebe, Tufts University, DMR-0

1. Polymer-Based Nanocomposites: An Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing StudentsPeggy Cebe, Tufts University, DMR-0406127 85 s 145s Nanocomposites are mixtures of two or more components, in which at least one of them has dimensions on the nanometer length scale. In this program, polymer nanocomposites are made by adding tiny particulates to thermoplas-tic polymers. Addition of clay caused changes in both the crystal phase and the microstructure of the nanocomposites. The top figures show polarizing optical microscope (POM) images of polymer crystal aggregates, called spherulites, for 0.07% clay in poly(vinylidene fluoride) polymer matrix, at two different times during growth at 150C. The diameter of the spherulites was measured and plotted against time (lower figure). Two types of spherulites could be grown at this temperature: larger, highly birefringent alpha phase (red squares) and smaller, darker ones (blue circles). The two types nucleate at about the same time, but the alpha phase spherulites grow at a faster rate. Data are from work of Ince-Gunduz, B. S.; Alpern, R.; Amare, D.; Cebe, P.; Crawford, J.; Dolan, B.; Jones, S.; Kobylarz, R.; and Reveley, M., in preparation for submission. Undergraduates participants are underlined.

2. Polymer-Based Nanocomposites: An Opportunity for Deaf and Hard of Hearing StudentsPeggy Cebe, Tufts University, DMR-0406127 Education and Outreach to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing a c b Four deaf or hard of hearing students were accepted into the third class of interns, and spent six weeks at Tufts, performing research in the laboratory of Prof. Peggy Cebe. Interns came from Drexel U. (D), Gallaudet U. (G), and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). a.) Michelle Koplitz (RIT) takes POM images. b.) L-R: Front row signs “PB-NC-20-06”: Matthew Meleski (G), Michelle (RIT), Kristina Burke (G) and Ari Sagiv (D); Second row: Wendy Jehlen and Mark Riley, ASL interpreters; Seyhan Ince-Gunduz, Bob Guertin, and Peggy Cebe, instructors. c.) Kristina (G) loads a sample into the FTir cell. d d.) Interns from 2004 and 2005 pose in front of their poster with Prof. Cebe (right). They presented at the American Chemical Society meeting, which was held in Washington, DC.