Polymer Science Commons^™

The Science And Economics Of 3d-Printed Filament Recycling, Michael Domingo, Dane Freund, John Mcswiggin, Adam Meadows

Sustainability Conference

In recent years, 3D printing has grown rapidly, both in homes and commercially. This has led to increased demand for plastic filaments, many of which contribute to plastic waste. This project explores the potential of recycling household plastics into 3D printing filament, promoting sustainability and creating a circular economy. Materials like PLA, PETG, ABS, and polypropylene can be recycled or even composted. Existing research has shown that recycled filaments can maintain comparable tensile strength to their virgin counterparts, depending on the recycling process. Furthermore, implementing circular economy practices for plastics could save billions annually by mitigating pollution and reducing landfill …

Engineering Nanofibers: Laboratory Characterization, Microstructural Analysis, And Image Processing Insights, Sayed Ahmadreza Razian, Mohammad Arjomandi, Kaspars Maleckis

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

Polymer nanofibers have attracted high interest in a wide array of applications, including biomaterial scaffolding, textiles, sensors, reinforcement in composites, and filtration systems. Many of these applications combine nanofibers into non-woven fabrics for better properties and easier manipulation. The properties and performance of nanofiber-based fabrics are affected by various microstructure parameters, including fiber alignment, diameter, and gap sizes between the nanofibers. These structural parameters can be controlled by adjusting various process parameters during manufacturing process, but the exact process parameter-microstructure relationships vary depending on the polymer system and need to be studied individually. The goal of this study is to …

Engineering Of Functionalized Carbon Nano-Onions Embedded Bsa Nanocomposite Fibers For Stimuli-Responsive Drug Release, Ramiro Manuel Velasco Delgadillo, Narsimha Mamidi

Research Symposium

Background: Advanced drug delivery systems (DDSs) have received enormous attention in biomedical applications due to their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic drug properties. For the present study, poly 4-hydroxyphenyl methacrylate (PHPMA)/CNOs (f-CNOs) inserted bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanofibers were prepared for stimuli-responsive release of Doxorubicin (DOX). Temperature and pH would be altered to study the release of DOX in acidic microenvironments.

Methods: PHPMA were coupled with COOH-CNOs via ester coupling via the sonochemical method to produce PHPMA-CNOs (f-CNOs). Then, f-CNOs/DOX embedded BSA nanofibers were prepared at room temperature using Forcespinning. UV spectra of DOX-loaded nanofibers were studied to investigate the …

Novel Thermal Coating For High-Speed Airplanes, Abinash Satapathy, Lakshay Battu, Liam Watson, Nazanin Rajabi

Symposium of Student Scholars

In comparison to various other materials, Carbon Fiber, specifically Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP), is pre-eminent amongst other materials for use on aeronautical systems. Due to its high specific strength (strength-to-weight ratio), CFRP is prominent for carrying heavy loads while maintaining a lightweight build. However, when influenced by heat resulting from air resistance, CFRP is known to undergo serious degradation that would significantly decrease the effectiveness of the polymers. To prevent this degradation and maintain the strength of the CFRP, thermal protective layers (TPLs) are designed to shield the CFRP from heat exposure. This research is focused on the examination …

Addressing Pfas Contamination In Blood Bank Supplies With Hydrogel Nanocomposite Sorbents, Anicah Lynn Smith, E. Molly Frazar, J. Zach Hilt

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Environmental pollutants continue to be a threat to global human health. Persistent contaminants, such as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been linked to a multitude of adverse health effects such as cancerous tumors, increased blood cholesterol levels and liver damage. The dominant source of exposure to PFAS is through contaminated drinking water, and accumulation has been found to occur significantly in human blood serum. Thus, high-risk groups who are receiving frequent blood transfusions are exposed to these harmful chemicals in a dual fashion, which could prove detrimental. Traditional sorbents that display an affinity for PFAS include powdered activated carbon and clay. …

Husky Hand: A Low-Cost Electro-Mechanical Prosthetic Arm For The Underprivileged, Adam Robert

Thinking Matters Symposium

A continuation of a low-cost prosthetic upper limb prototype design which was investigated in EGN 301. The prosthetic is specifically designed for the needs and requirements of under privileged individuals in the Dominican Republic with upper limb amputations. The project focuses on the creation of an open-source computer aided prosthetic hand/arm model. The design allows consumer-grade fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3-D printers to be used. The improved design allows for the integration of the PQ-12 linear actuator for grasp and finger control. This simplifies the assembly, while, also reducing the size and mass of the whole unit. Producing a low-cost …

Controlled Nanomorphology Of Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Multi-Component Composites Through Cooperative Non-Covalent Interactions, Lingyao Meng

Shared Knowledge Conference

Hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite polymers, with inorganic nanoparticles embedded in organic matrix have emerged as a special category of multifunctional materials. With rational materials design, these hybrids can show the synergistic effect of the properties from both phases. Homogenous dispersion and orderly arrangement of the organic and inorganic components are key in their functionalities. By controlling the interface and corresponding interfacial interactions between the organic and inorganic entities, we have developed a logical approach to form stable and controlled hybrid nanofiber structures. We demonstrate the formation of hybrid polymer/quantum dots (or iron oxide nanoparticles) nanocomposites through non-covalent interactions (hydrogen bonding, ionic …

Developing Strategies To Toughen Bio-Inspired Adhesives, Narelli P. Narciso, Samuel Lee Huntington, Jonathan J. Wilker

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Mussels and other marine creatures adhere very well in underwater environments, having the ability to withstand the force of the sea. These animals have inspired synthetic biomimetic adhesives for wet systems, presenting potential for biomedical applications. However, most current commercial adhesives tend to be brittle, not resisting repetitive movements. This study assesses toughening strategies to improve the mussel-inspired adhesives’ ductility while maintaining its strength. The strategies included altering the polymer’s chemical structure by changing the percentage of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in the molecule and by adding fillers, such as calcium carbonate, silica and nacre - a calcium carbonate compound found …

Synthesis Of Double Network Hydrogels Which Can Be Shaped Freely, Natsuki Morimoto, Norie Kato

The International Student Science Fair 2018

Double network (DN) hydrogels have specific characters such as flexibility and high mechanical strength. They are expected to use biomaterials such as artificial cartilages and meniscuses. The purpose of this study is to synthesize DN gels which can be shaped freely. DN gels were synthesized by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a mold, 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS) as a first monomer, N,N’-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBAA) as a crosslinker, 2-oxoglutalic acid (OGA) as an initiator and acrylamide (AAm) as a second monomer. First, PVA (polymerization degree; 2000) was dissolved in the water and prepared to 15 % of aqueous solution. It was poured in …

An Entirely New Molecular Glue For Mof Using Unusual Structural Transformation Of A Coordination Polymer, Sukwoo Jung, Hangyeol Kim, Junseok Ahn

The International Student Science Fair 2018

In this research, an entirely new molecular glue is reported. This ‘coordination polymer glue’ is synthesized from zinc metal and BDC-NPE(2,5-bis{4-[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamino]butoxy}terephthalic acid). Molecular glue transforms from 1D coordination polymer to a 3D cross-linked framework, resulting in a phase change of solution to solid. The carboxylate group of this glue makes the preformed MOF bind to its framework. Therefore, when the solution of molecular glue is mixed with preformed MOF powder and heated, homogeneous and thin MOF film – MOF/ZnNPE film – is fabricated. The film is irrelevant to the kind of its substrate, and its thermal stability was enhanced in …

An Entirely New Molecular Glue For Mof Using Unusual Structural Transformation Of A Coordination Polymer, Sukwoo Jung, Hangyeol Kim, Junseok Ahn

The International Student Science Fair 2018

In this research, an entirely new molecular glue is reported. This ‘coordination polymer glue’ is synthesized from zinc metal and BDC-NPE(2,5-bis{4-[1-(4-nitrophenyl)ethylamino]butoxy}terephthalic acid). Molecular glue transforms from 1D coordination polymer to a 3D cross-linked framework, resulting in a phase change of solution to solid. The carboxylate group of this glue makes the preformed MOF bind to its framework. Therefore, when the solution of molecular glue is mixed with preformed MOF powder and heated, homogeneous and thin MOF film – MOF/ZnNPE film – is fabricated. The film is irrelevant to the kind of its substrate, and its thermal stability was enhanced in …

High-Density Non-Fouling Bioactive Coatings: Development And Characterization, Bonan Yu, Ramya Raman, Karl Schlike

Biomedical Engineering Western Regional Conference

No abstract provided.

Synthesis, Characterization, And Thermoelectric Properties Of Radical Siloxanes, Arnold J. Eng, Bryan Boudouris, Edward P. Tomlinson, Martha Emily Hay

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

More than half of the annual energy consumption in the United States is lost as waste heat. Polymer-based thermoelectric devices have the potential to utilize this waste heat both sustainably and cost-effectively. Although conjugated polymers currently dominate research in organic thermoelectrics, the potential of using polymers with radical pendant groups have yet to be realized. These polymers have been found to be as conductive as pristine (i.e., not doped) poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), a commonly-used charge-transporting conjugated polymer. This could yield promising avenues for thermoelectric material design as radical polymers are more synthetically tunable and are hypothesized to have a high Seebeck …

Polymer-Based Thermoelectric Devices, Stuart W. Hilsmier, Edward P. Tomlinson, Bryan Boudouris

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Currently, over 50% of all energy generated in the US is lost as waste heat, and thermoelectric generators offer a promising means to recoup some of this energy, if their efficiency is improved. While organic thermoelectric materials lack the efficiency of their inorganic counterparts, they are composed of highly abundant resources and have low temperature processing conditions. Recently, a new class of redox-active polymers, radical polymers, has exhibited high electrical conductivity in an entirely amorphous medium. In addition, these radical polymers have a simple synthetic scheme and can be highly tunable to provide desired electrical properties. In this study, the …

Radical Polymers As Anodic Charge Extraction Layers In Small Molecule Organic Photovoltaic Devices, Krystopher S. Jochem, Aditya G. Baradwaj, Bryan W. Boudouris

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices based on the copper (II) phthalocyanine(CuPc)/ fullerene(C₆₀) system are an innovative photovoltaic technology optimal for situations requiring low-cost, transparent, and flexible devices. Furthermore, the high degree of reproducibility of this system allows for the ready study of new OPV technologies. Here, we have used this system to elucidate systematic structure-property-performance relationships for a new OPV anode modifier. The addition of interfacial modifier materials between the organic CuPc/C₆₀ layers and the metallic anode drastically can improve efficiency. Radical polymers are a class of polymers with aliphatic backbones and pendent stabilized radical groups. Here, we …

Optimization Of Polymer Separation By Gradient Polymer Elution Chromatography, Gideon R. Liem, Linda Nien-Hwa Wang

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has been a versatile separation method for polymers for many years. Analysis of different polymers by HPLC is typically done by utilizing the differential solubility of the polymers by mixing a good solvent and an anti-solvent in various compositions. This method is called Gradient Polymer Elution Chromatography (GPEC). While GPEC has been used extensively, it commonly uses a linear gradient to separate components. Linear solvent gradients consume a lot of solvent and take a relatively long time (> 30 minutes) to complete. The goal of this study is to develop a step gradient from a …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Bismuth Telluride Nanoparticles For Use In Flexible Polymer-Nanoparticle Hybrid Thermoelectric Devices, Alexander R. Muller, Bryan Boudouris, Edward P. Tomlinson

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Polymer-based thermoelectric materials, which can have readily-tuned properties through simple control of their chemistry, offer the promise of providing flexible, lightweight, and low-cost modules for the environmentally-friendly conversion of waste heat to electricity without the need for moving parts. As such, they have started to be explored in applications ranging from improved building efficiency to increased mileage in automobiles. However, widespread implementation of these materials is limited due to their low performance relative to their mechanically-rigid, heavy inorganic material-based counterparts. Therefore, a critical need exists to design polymer-nanoparticle composite materials to increase the energy conversion of thin film thermoelectric devices. …

Tobacco Mosaic Virus Implemented As An Interfacial Layer In Organic Photovoltaic Cells, Monica D. Del Real, Bryan Boudouris

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are flexible, light weight, and economical to produce due to low processing temperatures, solution processing, and print fabrication. This makes them optimal for a wide range of applications. However, the efficiencies of OPVs are currently not high enough for them to be viable in the market or to be able to compete with inorganic photovoltaics. Therefore the integration of new materials and methods into OPVs in order to increase their efficiency is a vital field. One way to increase the efficiency of OPVs is to increase the surface area in-between layers to allow for enhanced electron transport. …

Materials Education And Research In Art And Design: A New Role For Libraries (Survey Stats), Mark Pompelia

Materials Education and Research in Art and Design: A New Role for Libraries

No abstract provided.

Materials Education And Research In Art And Design: A New Role For Libraries (Program Sheet), Mark Pompelia

Materials Education and Research in Art and Design: A New Role for Libraries

No abstract provided.

Materials Education And Research In Art And Design: A New Role For Libraries (Program Booklet), Mark Pompelia

Materials Education and Research in Art and Design: A New Role for Libraries

No abstract provided.

Materials Education And Research In Art And Design: A New Role For Libraries (Website), Mark Pompelia

Materials Education and Research in Art and Design: A New Role for Libraries

No abstract provided.

Materials Collection Creation And Administration: A New Role For Libraries (White Paper), Mark Pompelia

Materials Education and Research in Art and Design: A New Role for Libraries

The Problem/Opportunity: To define, identify, and guide design-based materials collections in academic settings and foster community among those with existing collections and/or those considering creating and supporting one.

Contents and topics:

1. What is a materials collection?
2. Why have a materials collection?
3. Acquisition strategies
4. Organizational approaches
5. Programming possibilities
6. Symposium summary
7. Resources

Applied Analysis Of Ionic Polymer Metal-Composite Actuators, Siul Ruiz, Benjamin Mead, Woosoon Yim

College of Engineering: Graduate Celebration Programs

• IPMC is a type of smart material called an electroactive polymer
• Consists of an ionic polymer such as Nafion or Flemion and a conducive metal such as platinum or gold
• COMSOL multi-physics simulations accurately model the experimental displacement results
• Optimization performed using the multi-physics model to find the maximum deflection, force, and twisting
• Using the closed loop control system accurate IPMC tip location can be achieved
• This control system has been extended to function using a computer mouse as an input