(219m) Bianca Mitchell
AIChE Annual Meeting
2021
2021 Annual Meeting
Engineering for Inclusion
MAC Eminent Engineers Awards Poster Session
Monday, November 8, 2021 - 5:30pm to 6:00pm
In this work, we explore the dynamics of a surface-functionalized CNC during the curing in a commonly used thermosetting resin (EPON 828). X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS), coupled with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), reveal drastic changes in the dynamics and curing kinetics of the composite as a function surface modification. To confirm that the crystals were successfully functionalized, both Fourier transform infrared, and x-ray diffraction was utilized to verify results before dispersing the crystals in the hydrophobic thermosetting epoxy resin. Two levels of modification (7 & 10 %) were chosen to perform observations at a constant loading of 5 wt%. The goal of this study is to compare the macroscale curing dynamics using DSC to non-isothermally cure with the microscale dynamics using XPCS. By using XPCS to compliment the macroscale results obtained from DSC, it is possible to fully understand the preliminary and final dynamics displayed by the composite on a microscale level that cannot be observed using simply DSC. With the results weâve obtained using both methods, the degree of cure using either an isothermal or non-isothermal procedure can be better understood, and techniques can be tailored to achieve desired properties.