Jovan Mijovic (Polytechnic University),

1
Dynamics of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)/
polyisoprene (PI) nanocomposites as studied by
dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS) and
dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS)
Jovan Mijovic (Polytechnic University), HyungKi
Lee (Polytechnic University) and Jose Kenny
(University of Perugia, Italy)
DMR-0346435 NSF-EC
Fig. 1 Functionalization of SWNT
Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are
attractive materials with tremendous application
potential in multifunctional systems that range
from hydrogen storage and chemical probes to
sensors and nanocomposites. This is due to their
exceptional stiffness and strength as well as
remarkable thermal and electrical properties.
Fundamental study on the molecular dynamics of
nanocomposites that contain SWNTs is important
because it will provide engineers and scientists
with essential information on how to improve
processing and control properties of these
materials. In this work, SWNT/PI nanocomposites
were prepared and investigated. SWNTs were
functionalized (Fig. 1) to improve their
compatibility with the polymer matrix, and their
dielectric (Fig. 2) and rheological (Fig. 3)
response were investigated. One important
observation is that the functionalization of SWNT
alters rheological response and enhances
mechanical properties of nanocomposites. Another
finding is that the chain mobility is
considerably affected by the degree of
interaction between polymers and SWNTs in
nanocomposites.
Atomic Force Microscopy
SWNT-polymer nanocomposite image (NASA)
Fig. 2 Dielectric Spectra
Fig. 3 Rheology
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Dynamics of Nanostructured Systems DMR-0346435
NSF-EC PI Jovan Mijovic, Polytechnic University
Education Three Chemical Engineering Ph.D
students HyungKi Lee (4th year), Yu Bian (4th
year), Sanja Ristic (3rd year), Chetan Khamar
(MS, June 06) and four undergraduate students in
Chemical and Biological Engineering Ruel
McKenzie (Senior), Anastasija Shytuhina (Junior),
Darya Kozlova (Senior) and Qi Ke Chen (Junior)
are involved in this program.
Outreach Every year we accommodate
under-represented minority students from NY City
high schools under the aegis of the YES (Youth in
Engineering and Science) summer program at
Polytechnic.
Exchange Three students from our program
partners in Italy spent time in our lab in
2005-06 Claudio Raggi, Marco Monti and Yuri
Mozetic.
Photo Caption From left to right Sanja Ristic,
Ruel McKenzie, Yu Bian, HyungKi Lee, Anastasija
Shytuhina, Professor Mijovic, Darya Kozlova, Qi
Ke Chen,
Note
Darya is currently with Exxon-Mobil and Ruel has
been accepted to graduate school at Columbia
University.