 | 1995-96 Research Excellence Fund |
| CMSC Golf Outing |
| Free Auger Spectrometer Acess in CMSC |
| Structure/Permeability Relationships of Polyimide-Clay Hybrid Composites |
| Calendar of Events |
The Research Excellence Fund (REF) is a State of Michigan program designed to focus resources on a limited number of specific basic and applied research proposals of outstanding quality which will contribute to economic development and job creation within the State of Michigan. The REF moneys are intended to provide support to start new and novel research efforts, encourage new multi-investigator, interdisciplinary efforts and attract external funding in support of faculty research which will contribute to the long-term economic vitality of the State of Michigan as stated in the REF objectives. Each project undertaken by an institution must be in a field where quality and institutional commitment are already strong. Composite materials and processing has been designated as a major thrust area at MSU.
In response to the 1995/96 Research Excellence Fund call for proposals in the composite materials and processing area, fifty-one (51) proposals were submitted and 37 were funded for the period, July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996. The following proposals were selected for funding:
Microsorting Mixed Thermoplastic Waste Streams Using Hydrocyclone Classifiers - $18,187 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Charles A. Petty, Chemical Engineering
Co-Investigator: Susan E. Selke, School of Packaging
Recycling of Post Consumer Waste Paper as Secondary Reinforcement in Concrete Composites - $13,000 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Parviz Soroushian, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Thermoactive Titanium-Nickel/Polyimide Thin Film Elements for Smart Structural Composites - $41,000 New
Principal Investigators: David S. Grummon & Thomas J. Pence, Materials Science & Mechanics
Precision-Performance, Controllable-Fluid, Laminated Composites Utilizing Active Optical Feedback - $47,000 New
Principal Investigators: John R. Lloyd & Clark J. Radcliffe, Mechanical Engineering
Effect of Physical Aging on the Viscoelastic Response of Multi-phase Polymers - $13,008 New
Principal Investigator: Andre Lee, Materials Science & Mechanics
Brittle Ceramic Film Characterization by Nanoindentor - $10,660 Renewed
Principal Investigators: Eldon D. Case & Ronald C. Averill, Materials Science & Mechanics
A New Technique for Making Continuous Fiber Metal Matrix Composites - $12,850 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Thomas R. Bieler, Materials Science & Mechanics
In-situ Study of Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation in Metal Matrix Composites - $21,100 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Martin A. Crimp, Materials Science & Mechanics
Porous Ceramics - Preparation of Alumina Fiber Reinforced Alumina Composites - $26,174 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Melissa J. Crimp, Materials Science & Mechanics
High Energy Ion Irradiation of Single-Crystal Sapphire Fibers for Improved Strength Retention in High-Temperature Metal-Matrix Composites - $24,447 Renewed
Principal Investigator: David S. Grummon, Materials Science & Mechanics
Elastic Properties of Laminated Composite Materials - $20,000 Renewed (Joint with CFMR)
Principal Investigator: Iwona M. Jasiuk, Materials Science & Mechanics
Co-Investigator: Michael F. Thorpe, Physics & Astronomy
The Effect of Interface and Geometric Arrangement on the Local and Global Response of Composite Materials - $22,000 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Iwona M. Jasiuk, Materials Science & Mechanics
Characterization of Critical Fundamental Aging Mechanisms of High Temperature Polymer Matrix Composites - $41,000 Renewed
Principal Investigators: Roger J. Morgan, Andre Y. Lee & Lawrence T. Drzal, CMSC/AMEES, Materials Science & Mechanics, CMSC
High Performance Photopolymerizable Composite Encapsulants for Improved Semiconductor Packaging - $44,000 New
Principal Investigator: Alec B. Scranton, Chemical Engineering
Development of the Part-shaped Mold Process and the Controlled Microwave Processing Technique - $27,794 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Martin C. Hawley, Chemical Engineering
Co-Investigator: Jes Assmusen, Jr., Electrical Engineering
Laser Machining and Joining of Metal-Matrix Composites - $23,056 Renewed
Principal Investigator: K. Mukherjee, Materials Science & Mechanics
High Speed Videography of Fiber Transport and Deposition onto a Preform Screen - $21,177 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Charles A. Petty & John F. Foss, Chemical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering
High Speed Production of Composite Sandwich Structures Through Novel Photopolymerizations - $23,000 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Alec B. Scranton, Chemical Engineering
Polymer Composite-Reinforced Wood Beams for Transportation Infrastructure Applications - $31,397 New
Principal Investigator: Ronald S. Harichandran, Civil & Environmental
Engineering
Co-Investigator: Frank J. Hatfield, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Turning the Energy Absorption Capability of Layered Composites - $25,524 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Dahsin Liu, Materials Science & Mechanics
Multiscale Evaluation and Design of Textile Composite Materials - $22,000 New
Principal Investigator: Ronald C. Averill, Materials Science & Mechanics
Co-Investigator: Roger J. Morgan, Adv. Materials Engr. Exp. Sta. - AMEES
Optimal Design of Laminated Structures Using Genetic Algorithms - $24,773 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Ronald C. Averill, Materials Science & Mechanics
Co-Investigator: William F. Punch, Computer Science
Co-Investigator: Erik Goodman, Case Ctr. for Computer Aided Engr. & Mfgr.
Measurement of Multidimensional Thermal Properties of CVD Carbon-Carbon - $24,500 Renewed
Principal Investigators: James V. Beck & John J. McGrath, Mechanical Engineering
Dissipated Energy and Fatigue Damage of Modified Asphalt Concrete Mixes - $12,637 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Karim Chatti & Gilbert Baladi, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Hybrid Fastening of Composites - $23,914 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Gary L. Cloud, Materials Science & Mechanics
Crashworthiness of Automotive Composite Materials and Structures - $15,000 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Dahsin Liu, Materials Science & Mechanics
Development and Characterization of Polymer Matrix Composites Suiting Utilization in the Concrete-Based Infrastructure - $19,945 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Parviz Soroushian, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Computational Methods for Highly Deformable Directionally Reinforced Elastic Composites - $16,500 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Thomas J. Pence, Materials Science & Mechanics
In-situ Cure Monitoring for Composites Processing Using Fiber Optic Fluorescence Sensors - $11,850 Renewed (Joint with CFMR)
Principal Investigators: Alec B Scranton & Gary J. Blanchard, Chemical Engineering & Chemistry
Electronic Holography and Shearography - $30,774 Renewed
Principal Investigator: Gary L. Cloud, Materials Science & Mechanics
Co-Investigator: Alvin Cederberg, Lincoln Composites Corp.
Co-Investigator: Charles Jacobus, Cybernet Systems Corp.
Injection Molding of Chopped Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites - $22,197 Renewed
Principal Investigator: K. Jayaraman, Chemical Engineering
Lead-Free Composite Solders - $26,274 New
Principal Investigators: K.N. Subramanian & T.R. Bieler, Materials Science & Mechanics
Environmental Effects on the Static Fatigue Behavior of Ceramic Composites - $16,417 Renewed
Principal Investigator: E. Case, Materials Science & Mechanics
Aging Effects on Service Environmental Performances of Polymeric Matrix Composites - $13,387 Renewed
Principal Investigators: Andre Lee & Roger Morgan, Materials Science & Mechanics & Adv. Materials Engr. Exp. Sta. Midland
Partitioning of Moisture in Polymer Matrix Composites: Effects on Microfracture and Fatigue Behavior - $23,297 Renewed
Principal Investigator: James P. Lucas, Materials Sciences & Mechanics
Center for Application of Controllable Fluids in Laminated Composite Materials - $12,500
Principal Investigators: John R. Lloyd & Clark J. Radcliffe, Mechanical
Engineering
Co-Investigator: James F. Steffe, Food Science & Human Nutrition
Co-Investigator: Manoocher Koochesfahani, Mechanical Engineering
Co-Investigator: Roger J. Calantone, Marketing & Logistics
Fluid Dynamics Research in Support of Advanced Materials Processing - $12,500 New
Principal Investigators: Charles A. Petty, K. Jayaraman, Chemical Engineering
Co-Investigator: John F. Foss, Mechanical Engineering
Co-Investigator: M. Koochesfahani, Mechanical Engineering
By Arlene J. Klingbiel
Everyone had a good time at the 7th Annual CMSC Golf Outing on June 22, 1995 at Forest Akers East. The day was sunny and hot, but that didn t stop Jim Lucas and Tauseef Chaudry, both of MSM, from winning with a low score of 41. On the other hand, it may have been too hot for Jim McDowell, of ChE, and Eric Hannenmann, of CMSC, who had a high score of 60. Other winners were: Larry France, of ChE, who had an amazing long putt on #9, and Jim Lucas (a natural) who had closest to the pin on #4. After the great event, all the participants enjoyed refreshments at the USA Cafe. Thank you all for maing this year s golf outing a complete success. We hope to see you again next year.
Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) is an analytical technique that probes the elemental composition of the outermost 10 to 50 of a conductive surface. In practice, a sample is placed in an ultra high vacuum and subjected to an incident electron beam. The electron beam induces a double ionization event, which in turn results in the ejection of a low energy electron called the Auger electron. The Auger electron energy is measured which identifies the atom from which emanated. Elements with atomic number 3 (lithium) and above are detectable with Auger Spectroscopy. Additionally, AES can map the surface distribution of an element and can collect high magnification electron images of the sample. AES is commonly used in catalysis, failure analysis, adhesive bonding, electronic materials, and metallic materials research.
The CMSC maintains a model PHI 660 Auger electron spectrometer, operated by staff scientist Dr. Cara Weitzsacker. To promote the use of this technology in the MSU material research community, the CMSC will provide to new prospective users of AES a limited amount of free instrument time during the next 3 months. Each session will be limited to one-half day sessions, with no more than 4 sessions provided to any one research group. Preference will be given to researchers whose work could immediately benefit from this technique and to those that need to generate preliminary data for inclusion in a research proposal. Please contact Cara at 353-9939 to determine whether AES is a viable tool to analyze your samples and to obtain instructions for arranging access to this equipment.
By J. Gu, J.R. Giacin, R.J. Hernandez
School of Packaging
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Recent studies have shown a non-linear dependence of CO2 permeability, as a function of clay loading, for a series of polyimide-clay composite films containing 0 - 7.4% (v/v) CH3(CH2)17NH3+ montmorillonite. To more fully characterize the barrier properties of polyimide-clay composites fabricated by the intercalation of a polyamic acid in the galleries of CH3(CH2)17NH3+montmorillonite the permeability of the resultant polyimide-clay composites to O2, CO2 and water vapor was evaluated. Clay loading levels ranged from 0 - 7.5% (v/v). The temperature dependency for O2 permeability, over the temperature range 0 - 30oC, was also determined for the polyimide clay hybrid.
Typical results of the permeation studies are presented graphically in Figures 1 to 3, where the relative permeability rates for the respective permeants are plotted as a function of clay loading. The clay loading levels ranged from 0 - 7.5% (v/v). The permeability coefficient values determined are summarized in Tables 1 - 3, respectively.
From the permeability data, it becomes evident that the mass transfer process for the respective penetrants is highly dependent on the clay loading level and exhibits a non-linear dependency. For example, the addition of 2.5% (v/v) montmorillonite clay resulted in a 50% reduction in the permeation rate of CO2 and water vapor, respectively, as compared to the simple polyimide film. A 60% reduction in the O2 transmission rate was achieved at a 5% (v/v) clay loading.
Since non-permeable platey particles act as a barrier to gas diffusion by increasing the tortuosity of the diffusion pathway, the dependence of permeability on loading can be estimated from the equation
where Pc and Pp is the permeability of the composite film and that of the unfilled (pristine) polymer, respectively, fp and ff are the volume fractions of polymer and filler, and W/t is the width-to-thickness aspect ratio of the filler.
The best fit of the permeability equation to the experimental data for CO2 , water
vapor and O2 gave apparent particle aspect ratios of 132, 130, and 46, respectively. 
The non-linear decrease in permeability with clay loading, the apparent aspect ratios and the observed crystallographically regular layer stacking order with a monolayer of polymer intercalated between the layers are consistent with a possible self-similar clay aggregation mechanism, where the face-face associated layers are slipped in a staircase-like fashion.
The temperature dependency of the mass transfer process is illustrated in Figure 4, where the transmission rates for O2 through the composite film (2.5% v/v clay loading) and the unfilled polymer are plotted as a function of increase of temperature (oK-1). As can be seen, the temperature dependency of the transport process, over the temperature range studied (0 - 30oC), follows well the Arrhenius relationship. From the slopes of the Arrhenius plots, the activation energy of the permeation process (Ea) was determined. An activation energy (Ea) value of 4.67 Kcal/mole was obtained for the composite and a value of 4.02 Kcal/mole was obtained for the simple polyimide film.
Advanced Composites Conference & Exposition (11th Annual ESD) & Advanced
Coatings Technology Conferenced & Exposition (5th Annual ESD)
Location: Dearborn, MI
Date: November 7-9, 1995
AIChE Process Safety Management 1995
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Date: November 6-8, 1995
Location: New York, NY
Date: December 4-6, 1995
AIChE Safety Analysis & Risk Assessment for Chemical Process Industry
Practitioners
Course 1 - Hazards Evaluation: Qualitative Methods
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Date: October 30-November 3, 1995
Course 2 - Hazards Evaluation: Quantitative Methods
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Date: November 6-10, 1995
Course 3 - Consequence Assessment & Mitigation
Location: Miami Beach, FL
Date: November 13-17, 1995
ASTM Technical & Professional Training in the Performance, Use & Application
of ASTM Standards Gasoline: Specifications, Testing & Technology
Location: Miami, Fl
Date: October 31-November 2, 1995
BIOSYM Material Sciences Workshops - Predicting Properties of Electronic, Optical
& Magnetic Material
Location: Chicago, IL
Date: November 29-30, 1995
CBPR 1995 Symposium (Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research)
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Date: Novemger 7-9, 1995
Materials Research Society (MRS) - Symposium I: Diagnostic Techniques for
Semi-Conductor Materials Processing
Location: Boston, MA
Date: November 27-December 1, 1995
Materials Research Society (MRS) - Symposium C: Thermodynamics & Kinetics of
Phase Transformations
Location: Boston, MA
Date: November 27-December 1, 1995
Composite Materials and Structures Center
College of Engineering
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1326
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