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Tailored Elastomers (Cornell University) Claude Cohen, T. Michael Duncan, Fernando Escobedo DMR-0349952. Multimodal and Interpenetrated Networks.
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Tailored Elastomers (Cornell University)Claude Cohen, T. Michael Duncan, Fernando Escobedo DMR-0349952 Multimodal and Interpenetrated Networks Goals: Examine the enhancement in mechanical properties of multimodal and interpenetrated silicone elastomers that have applications in medical, electronic, automotive and other industries. Use computer simulations to elucidate the mechanism of enhancement. Bimodal Interpenetrated Toughness enhancement of interpenetrated networks and comparison with a semi-empirical model. Results: When the longest chain approaches 100,000 g/mol in a trimodal network, the degree of enhancement can be fourfold over monomodal networks with similar crosslink density. Unclustered Snapshots showing centers of mass of short chains Clustered Mechanism: Simulations of segmental order for two bimodal systems shows that when short chains are unclustered, they stretch more than long chains and lead to increased toughness, in contrast to the case when short chains become clustered.
Tailored Elastomers (Cornell University)Claude Cohen, T. Michael Duncan, Fernando Escobedo DMR- 0349952 Education and Outreach Activities Two Ph.D. students have graduated from this program this past year and taken up industrial positions with Dow Chemical and Intel. A third year student and a first year student are presently pursuing their PhD in this program. Two REU and five undergraduate students participated in research under this program over the past year. The PIs participated in Cornell’s Industrial Polymer Outreach Program under the auspices of the Cornell Center for Materials Research. The PI participated in an educational outreach program for High School teachers. Photos on the left showing the PI demonstrating drag reduction and rod climbing in polymer solutions. Outreach to the general public during National Chemistry Week took place by presenting demonstrations on polymers and elastomers at a local mall. The PI is mentoring a minority postdoctoral fellow planning to pursue an academic career.