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The design and
characterization of self-healing sol-gel coatings
Dr. Max Yen
This
project will study the durability of self-healing sol-gel (SHSG)
coatings developed by Dr. Dave’s group in chemistry. Such
coatings are a new class of materials that are designed to recover
their original properties through the architecture of porosity and
inclusion at the nanoscale. In other words, when the SHSG is damaged
the local porosity structure is broken up, thus allowing for the
inclusion material to repair the damaged region through a chemical
reaction. In essence, the inclusion materials, the reaction process,
and the structure of the nano-domains are the subject of this study.
Moreover, the reaction mechanism, the recovery of material properties,
and the molecular and macroscopic mechanics of the recovery process are
within the scope of this multidisciplinary collaborative project
between the chemistry and engineering departments.
REU
students will first learn the variation of SHSG and how to make them in
the laboratory. The basic principle in the chemical reaction and
molecular interaction will be the main subject. SHSG specimens will be
prepared for the study of scratch experiment and subsequent recovery
process. The objectives are to guide students to conduct a series of
experiments and data analysis. The change in surface physical features
of SHSG can be quantified through the use of a profilometer. In
addition, the initial scratch-recovery process can be studied using a
mechanical testing machine. The degradation and recovery of mechanical
properties can be studied through the principle of fracture
mechanics.xx It should also be pointed out that the chemical evolution
of the self-healing sol-gel during the recovery process can also be
studied through SEM and other microscopy techniques. Undergraduates
will learn the experimental and analytical techniques used in
mechanical testing.
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