| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Functional Nanomaterials 2023
|
| Presentation Title |
Synthesis, Characterization and Molecular Simulation of Polymers Enhanced with Halloysite Nanotubes |
| Author(s) |
Ronald Miller, Rafaela Aguiar, Oren E Petel |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Ronald Miller |
| Abstract Scope |
Nanocomposites and nanostructures often behave in ways that are counterintuitive to our expectations from macroscopic analogues, and we are interested in exploring these behaviours and exploiting them for improved material performance. In particular, we have been interested in improving the high-strain-rate response of polyurethanes (PUs), using Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) in their synthesis. We have synthesized PU-HNT composites with less than 1 wt% HNT, and demonstrated that these materials show a 21% increase in fracture toughness and 35% increase in spall strength. More importantly, our characterization and modeling work elucidates the underlying mechanisms of these improvements, and shows that the HNTs are not behaving as a traditional toughening phase in a composite. Rather, they act to favourably modify the microstructure in the surrounding polymer matrix during synthesis. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Composites, Mechanical Properties, Polymers |