Extreme Materials for Extreme Environments

This PhD project performs research within the field of polymer nanocomposites (PNC), and is part of the Danish innovation consortium "Extreme Materials for Extreme Environments" including both industrial partners, and research institutions. PNC´s are materials consisting of a polymer matrix and a filler with at least one dimension measured in the nanoscale (10^-9m). The fillers investigated in this project are nanoclay, halloysite nanotubes and carbon nanotubes, all having extremely high strength and surface area compared with conventional fillers such as carbon and glass fibers. The material properties affected by these fillers range from improved mechanical performance, decreased permeability and flammability to increased heat resistance. The high expectations of these materials have not yet been fulfilled, and this PhD project focuses on understanding the mechanisms that governs the mechanical properties of the PNC´s. This includes effects from the interface between matrix and filler, and the processing conditions under which the PNC´s are prepared.