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Polyimide Based Nanocomposites for Affordable Space TransportIn setting forth its strategic plan, NASA has indicated that low-cost access to space is the key to unleashing the commercial potential of space and greatly expanding space research and exploration. The development of advanced materials will be an enabling technology for this quest for low-cost space access. In this research program, we are attempting to address the need for new advanced materials by developing high-performance nanodispersed inorganic/organic and organic/organic polyimide composites utilizing specific interactions. Our goal is to systematically manipulate these interactions and investigate the resulting processing morphology-property relationships. Specifically, we will investigate three main parameters on these relationships. These include (1) the type of polyimide; (2) the structure of the inorganic nanoparticle being used; and (3) manipulation of the interfacial energy. During the first year of this effort, we have demonstrated the successful synthesis of PMR-15/layered silicate nanocomposites. Morphological studies indicate that exfoliated structures were obtained in most instances, with a mixture of exfoliated and intercalated structures being observed also. Significant enhancements of the onset of decomposition were obtained by varying the strength of the interaction between the nanoparticle and the polymer. Varying the amount of a specific nanoparticle also affected the decomposition temperatures. A slight catalytic effect of the nanoparticles on both the imidization and crosslinking reaction has been observed and will be presented. In addition, incorporation of the nanoparticles was found to increase the glass transition temperature and slightly broaden the breadth of this relaxation.
Document ID
20020018911
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Dean, Derrick
(Tuskegee Inst. AL United States)
Islam, Mohsina
(Tuskegee Inst. AL United States)
Small, Sharee
(Tuskegee Inst. AL United States)
Aldridge, Brandon
(Tuskegee Inst. AL United States)
Campbell, Sandra G.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: HBCUs/OMUs Research Conference Agenda and Abstracts
Subject Category
Nonmetallic Materials
Report/Patent Number
P30
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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