Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering

Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering

Educational programs 70 undergraduate students 25 graduate students Several post-docs 8 faculty members B.Sc., M.Sc., M.E. and Ph.D. Strong foreign exchange programs www.eng.auburn.edu/pfen

Analytical, testing and manufacturing capabilities A full array of analytical testing facilities for fibers, polymers and composites Key laboratories Polymer synthesis and chemistry labs Polymer manufacturing and coatings Polymer Characterization and analysis Composite manufacturing Composite mechanical and thermal evaluation Physical testing of fibers and tows Optical microscopy and Atomic Force microscopy

Faculty research interests Name Maria Auad Sabit Adanur Gisela Buschle-Diller Edward Davis Yasser Gowayed Peter Schwartz Gwen Thomas Xinyu Zhang Research interests Transparent polymer networks, shape memory polymers, nanocomposites Polymer processing and composites, engineered fibrous structures, CAD Natural polymers, dyes and pigments Coatings, melt processing, nanocomposites Modeling, testing and manufacture of polymer and ceramic composites Department head, polymer composites Protective materials Nano-materials, conducting polymers

FABRIC DESIGN AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM IN 3D VIRTUAL REALITY To develop a powerful and easy-touse computer application programs for designing 2D and 3D fabric structures and predicting their mechanical properties and performance in 3D shape applications. Sabit Adanur

COATED AND LAMINATED FABRICS and MEMBRANES FOR FUEL CELLS coating and laminating needs of membrane-based fuel cell components to increase efficiency, reduce cost and further develop and optimize the substrates, Recipes and process technology Sabit Adanur

NANOPARTICLE REINFORCED HYBRID FIBERS AND FILMS To develop polymeric materials with nanoparticles (e.g. carbon nanotubes and nanoclays) to engineer new hybrid polymeric parts and micro/nano fiber/film properties for nontraditional industries such as fuel cells, electronics, using injection molding, extrusion and electrospinning processes. Tensile stress (MPa) 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 PP PP/F1 F1 PP/F2 0-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Tensile strain (mm/mm) F2 Improving Toughness of polypropylene With Thermoplastic Elastomers in Injection Molding Sabit Adanur

Transparent polymer networks for tough windshields Impact-resistant lightweight transparent materials are in demand for use in automotive applications Helmet / visor Canopy / Wind shield/ Body Armor Protective enclosures Develop novel optically transparent Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (t-ipn) to enhance optical, mechanical, thermal and chemical performance of currently fielded materials used for transparent protection. Maria Auad

Shape Memory Polymers (SMPs). Maria L. Auad Polymer & Fiber Engineering NASA EPSCoR Shape memory polymers are smart materials capable of remembering their original shape after they are deformed. Thus, under appropriate conditions (usually thermal stimulus), they can be made to recover their original shape almost completely. These polymers find applications in a broad range of temperature sensing elements and biomedical systems. The aim of this project is to tailor the chemistry of shape memory polymers and to create new ways to generate the stimulus-responsive expression of these materials (UV and magnetic activation). SMPs synthesized at Auburn University. Recovery temp. 50 C. Auad et al, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011

Damping behavior in Carbon Nanotubes/epoxy Elastomers Maria L. Auad Polymer & Fiber Engineering Noise reduction and attenuation of vibration have become important technological issues associated to the application of structures and machines. The demand of materials with high structural damping capacity is growing in a variety of sectors : aerospace, transport, construction and machinery. The aim of this study is to show the effect of nanotubes/epoxy systems on the damping capacity of the material in an extended temperature range. The damping capacity opens important practical applications, as light-weight and robust damping components that can be integrated into the heterogeneous composite structures. Auad et al, 2006, 2009, 2009, 2010

Green polymeric materials for composites or other applications Lowering the eco footprint by replacing conventional polymers from petroleum with polymers from renewable resources, such as biomass Biodegradable resins made from biopolymers (e.g., PLA from biomass) Reinforcing strong natural fibers (e.g., flax, sisal, ramie) or recycled fibrous materials Green processing with non-toxic solvents and lowered energy needs Micrograph of flax fibers Reduced use of toxic chemicals from fossil fuels and reduced emission of greenhouse gases Ultrafine electrospun biopolymers as matrix Green chemistry for coloration Gisela Buschle-Diller

Materials for biomedical applications Interpenetrating crosslinked networks of biopolymers for controlled release of active compound Responsive reinforced hydrogels that keep their shape even at high swelling ratio Cumulative Release (%) Release at at 37 C ph 7.4 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 CS 10 H:CS 70:30 0 0 50 100 150 200 Time(min) Controlled drug release from FDA approved polymers Gisela Buschle-Diller Nano-crystalline cellulose as anchors for active compounds and for grafting

Coloration and pigmentation Pigments for clear coatings from renewable resources Gisela Buschle-Diller

Thermoplastic nanocomposites: processing for enhanced performance Improved mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of polymeric materials would enable increased metal resulting in lower weight more fuel efficient automobiles Improved Dispersion Better Performance Traditional Methods Surface Response DOE Novel Processing Elucidate how performance is affected by traditional processing conditions and develop new scalable processing methods that can be integrated with existing thermoplastic processing industry to provide improved materials at lower cost. Edward Davis

Scratch resistant waterborne coatings Aesthetic and protective coatings that can be applied in an environmentally friendly fashion with improved scratch resistance are needed Problem König Hardness 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Silica fraction in dried film Improved Hardness Particle Encapsulation by Emulsion Polymerization Develop new technologies for encapsulating nanoparticles in water borne coating latex systems. Improve coating properties, enable use of novel nanoparticles, increase aesthetic appeal of vehicles, enable increased use of environmentally friendly application methods. Edward Davis

Optimal design of polymer matrix composite materials and structures Material design: Developed pcgina to calculate mechanical and thermal properties and stress and strain distributions Structural design and Finite Element Analysis of composite materials for complex structures, creation of special elements, failure analysis Yasser Gowayed

Manufacture and testing of complex composite structures Multi-direction composite flywheels Mold design Develop and conduct testing protocols Yasser Gowayed

Thermo-mechanical properties for Ceramic Matrix Composites Stress (Pa) 2.50E+08 2.00E+08 1.50E+08 1.00E+08 5.00E+07 0.00E+00 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 Length as a fraction of the unit cell P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14 P15 node 1 node 2 node 3 node 4 Comparison of pcgina calculations to ANSYS results for SiC/SiC 01/01 material Effect of defects on properties Yasser Gowayed

Ballistic and bomb protection Auburn s technologies are being designed for V22 Osprey and other aircraft Waterproof, sound and thermal insulation added. Level IIIA and frag protection at 0.75 0.85 lbs/ft 2 Next goal is 7.62x39 AP protection at 2 lbs/ft 2 Bomb protection at 2.5 lbs/ft 2 tested by USMC against IED s Gwen Thomas

Scalable manufacturing of nanomaterials for enhanced toughness of composites Challenges: 1. Mostly lab-scale manufacturing with high cost 2. Difficult to process and integrate into existing composite systems General Approach Xinyu Zhang

Line-Patterned magnetic nanoparticles on flexible substrates Design the pattern using office softwares Dip-coating in magnetic nanoparticle synthesis Pattern after dip coating Sonication in toluene to remove toner Pattern of magnetic nanoparticle Challenges: Applications: Most pre-existing methods are costly, and not easy to scale up, such as e-beam lithography 1. Ultra-high density storage 2. Height sensor 3. Magnetic imaging Xinyu Zhang