Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Nanocomposites

• These nanocomposites offer advantages over conventional composites in tensile strength, modulus, and heat distortion temperature.
• A new approach of fabrication is in progress in which acoustic levitation and microwaves are being used to form nanocomposites from < 5 nm sized Al2O3, Si, TiO2, smectites, and charged nano-particles.
• Potential uses: Ultra-high strength and ultra-light automotive parts.

• Nano-fibrils (1 nm < size < 10 nm) are extracted from natural plant materials using fungi attack and steam explosion techniques and are subsequently combined with various polymers derived from plant materials to form nano-bio-composites.
• Potential uses: artificial limbs and dental restorative materials.

• Our fundamental studies of the thermodynamic properties of polymers confined in nano-sized (< 10 nm) porous materials suggest that the polymers thermodynamic properties are substantially modified.  We are exploiting these properties to form self-healing composites from various thermoset polymers.

S. Amanuel and V. M. Malhotra "Comparative Thermodynamic Behavior of Physically Restricted Cyclohexane and Cyclohexanone in Porous Silica", MRS Symposium Series, Vol. 543, 0-006 (1999).
 
S. Amanuel and V. M. Malhotra, "Structural, "Thermal, and Thermodynamical Behavior of Phenolic-Inorganic Hybrid Composites", MRS Symposium Series Volume 628, 6.5.1 - 6.6.6 (2000).
 
S. Amanuel and V. M. Malhotra, "Phenolic Nanocomposites: Effects of Physics Confinement ( < 62.5 nm) on the Curing Behavior of Phenolic", 6th International Conference on Nanostructured Materials, Orlando, USA, (2002).
 
R. D. West and V. M. Malhotra, "Effects of Particle Dispersion in Polymer Nanocomposites", 225th National Amer. Chem. Soc. Meeting, New Orleans, USA, (2003).

S. Clutts, G. Markevicius, and V. M. Malhotra, “Agricultural Bio-Composites: Effects of  Thermal Perturbations on Kenaf Fibers’ Structure”, National Amer. Chemical Soc. Meeting,  New Orleans, March 2003 

G. Markevicius,  and V. M. Malhotra,  “Structural, Mechanical, and Thermomechanical Behaviors of Phenolic-Wheat Straw Composites”,National Amer. Chemical Soc. Meeting, New Orleans, March 2003.

S. S. Iqbal, V. M. Malhotra, and S. Clutts, “Polymerization and Formulation of Pure Kenaf Composites” 11^th Annual Meeting of the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society, August 10-13, Denver, Colorado, 2003.

R. West, and V. M. Malhotra, “Effects of Ultrasonic Processing on the Thermal behavior of Epoxy Polymers”, ANTEC 2004, Soc. of Plastic Engineers, Volume 1, 2231 -  2235 (2004).

 G. Markevicius, and V. M. Malhotra, V. M., “Harnessing Natural Polymers and Fibers for the Development of Biocomposites” ANTEC 2004, Soc. of Plastic Engineers, Volume 1, 2433 -  2436 (2004).

S. Amanuel, and V. M. Malhotra, V. M. “Effects of Physical Confinement on the Curing Behavior of Phenolic Polymer in Nanostructures”, Proceedings of 11^th International Conference on Composites and Nano-Engineering, Ed. David Hui, International Community for Composites Engineering, University of New Orleans, 2004, pages 13 – 14

G. Markevicius, and V. M. Malhotra, “Agricultural Byproducts Derived Nanocomposites and Composites: Ultrasonic Cavitation Approach”, 229^th ACS National Meeting, San Diego, CA, March 13-15, 2005

S. Amanual, and V. M. Malhotra, V. M., “Effects of Physical Confinement (< 125 nm) on the Curing Behavior of Phenolic Resin”,  J. Applied Polymer Science, 99, 3183 – 3186 (2006).

R. D. West and V. M. Malhotra, “Rupture of Nanoparticle Agglomerates and Formulation of Al₂O₃-Epoxy Nanocomposites Using Ultrasonic Cavitation Approach: Effects on the Structural and Mechanical Properties”, Polymer Engineering and Science, 46, 426 – 430 (2006).

G. Bernard, R. D. West, and V. M. Malhotra, “Mechanical Behavior of Cured Epoxy: Effects of Ultrasonic Processing” SPE ANTEC,  1702 – 1706 (2006)

 

 

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