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1 Applicant ID: Name: Luis Delfin Major: Mechanical Engineering Project Title: Electrical and Mechanical Tuning of 3D Printed Photopolymer CNT Nanocomposites Through In Situ Dispersion Previous Mentored esearch: Documents to review: Yes From the Mentor: From the Student: Project Summary Student Project Description Mentoring Plan Student Personal Statement IB Approval (if req d) Student Transcript Applicant eview Information eview Guidelines eviewer Notes File

2 Electrical and mechanical tuning of 3D printed photopolymer-cnt nanocomposites through in-situ dispersion Yirong Lin Department of Mechanical Engineering Polymer matrix nanocomposites have gained increased amount of interest in recent years due to the highly desirable properties from their fillers with the scalability and manufacturability provided by the use of polymers [1]. Polymer matrix nanocomposites are fabricated by incorporating ceramic, metallic, and/or organic fillers into a polymer media to enable properties improvement such as thermal, electrical, mechanical, and dielectric properties. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been increasingly studied recently due to their excellent thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. However, they have not been extensively used in bulk as their remarkable properties are usually inhibited due to their tendency to agglomerate. When agglomerations are present in the composite, the reinforcement can become a point of failure as it creates localized stress regions within the structure. In order to improve the properties of the composite, methods to inhibit the agglomeration of CNTs need to be implemented. Several methods have been developed to alleviate CNTs agglomerations. Chemical treatments have been used to introduced different polar groups to the surface of the CNTs. Additionally, nanomaterials have been dispersed and aligned using magnetic fields and acoustic waves. Another technique frequently used for conductive materials is the application of an AC electric field. With this technique, the dispersion of the CNTs in the nanocomposite can be controlled by varying the intensity and frequency of the electric field [2]. The implementation of these alignment techniques presents the opportunity to further tune the properties of CNT nanocomposites. In this project, a commercially available stereolithography 3D printer will be used to fabricate polymer-cnt nanocomposites. The optimum concentration of CNT, where the samples presents improved mechanical and electrical properties while maintaining good printability, will be obtained. Additionally, different electric field parameters will be used to characterize the impact on the dispersion of the CNT and consequently the nanocomposite s properties. eferences 1. F. Hussain, M. Hojjati, M. Okamoto and. E. Gorga, "eview article: Polymer-matrix Nanocomposites, Processing, Manufacturing, and Application: An Overview," Journal of Composite Materials, vol. 40, no. 17, pp , Y.-F. Zhu, C. Ma, W. Zhang,.-P. Zhang, N. Koratkar and J. Liang, "Alignment of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in bulk epoxy composites via electric field," Journal of Applied Physics, vol. 105, no , pp. 1-6, 2009.

3 Mentoring plan Dr. Yirong Lin, an Associate Professor at Department of Mechanical Engineering, has known the mentee for two and a half years as he has been part of the Functional and Energy Materials Lab. The student is expected to contribute to the work of the lab by conducting effective research with the help of their research group. By the end of this program, the student will be expected to have developed techniques of analysis and testing of engineering materials, and to present his research at Symposiums held in the University of Texas at El Paso. The student will receive daily guidance from Dr. Lin on their research practices, as well as on the development of their project. He will officially meet with Mr. Delfin twice a week to discuss research progress. Besides, Dr. Lin will drop by the lab at least once a day to advice Mr. Delfin s research as well as help him solve issues associated with his project. Lastly, Mr. Delfin will join Dr. Lin s research group meeting every Friday to present his weekly research achievement, issues, as well as future research plans.

4 Student Project Description During this research project, I will be fabricating polymer/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites utilizing stereolithography as the additive manufacturing technology. More importantly, I will investigate the improvement on CNTs dispersion in the nanocomposite by applying an Alternate Current (AC) electric field during the printing process. Additionally, I will characterize the mechanical and electrical properties of the composite. I will determine optimum printing and electric field parameters to achieve the best print quality and mechanical properties. CNTs have gained a lot of attention due to their exceptional mechanical and electrical properties. However, they are not commonly used in bulk, as they do not exhibit their properties due to their tendency to agglomerate. It has been shown that CNTs can be dispersed by subjecting them to an AC electric field in a liquid matrix. For this project, the AC electric field will be applied to the liquid nanocomposite resin, then, the 3D printing process will be initiated to cure the liquid resin into a solid polymer. In this research project, I will be dispersing the CNTs during the printing process, alleviating any agglomerations, and consequently improving the mechanical properties of the samples. In this research project, I will learn how to fabricate different polymer-cnts nanocomposites using stereolithography 3D printed Forms1+ by FormLabs. I will learn how to generate the 3D model in a CAD program and to properly operate the 3D printer. I will learn chemical synthesis methods for photopolymer resins and composite resins. I will learn the several post-processing methods are involved in stereolithography, such as alcohol wash and ultraviolet post curing. After the manufacturing process is finished, I will learn to perform scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, tensile tests, and electrical conductivity tests using an LC Meter. When all the data is collected, I will utilize MATLAB to process and analyze the data, which will be presented in a professional and cohesive manner. Additionally, I will learn how to properly write research reports, where I will be giving a detailed description of the progress of the project. Project Timeline- 32 week MEITUS Program Week 1-5: Photopolymer resin/cnts composite synthesis Week 6-10: Fabrication of 3D printed composite and characterization of printability of the photoplymer resin Week : Optimization of printing parameters Week 13-14: Characterization of composite s surfaces and CNT dispersion of samples. Week 15-19: Fabrication of 3D printed composite and characterization of printability of the photoplymer resin under an AC electric field Week 19-20: : Optimization of electric field parameters Week 21-22: Characterization of composite s surfaces and CNT dispersion of samples under AC electric field. Week 23-24: Tensile testing of samples. Week 25-29: Sample preparation and conductivity testing of the samples Week 30-32: Processing of data and presentation of results.

5 Personal Statement Mechanical engineering is the area that I find most interesting in the STEM field. The ability to take a scientific theory and apply it to a problem encountered by society intrigues me. More specifically, the ability of mechanical engineering to connect with other disciplines to find innovative solutions to contemporary challenges fascinates me. For instance, in recent years I have been deeply interested in the development of smart structures for mechanical engineering applications. This research project gives me the opportunity to broaden my knowledge in other areas such as chemistry, physical and material science and that will have a serious impact in my professional development. Moreover, I will have the opportunity to learn about 3D printing technologies, which I find extremely interesting due to their working mechanism and potential applications. This new knowledge will allow me to be part of the progress of this new technology. Throughout my academic career, I have taken classes that will guide me on how to execute this project properly. esearch Foundations taught me how to search and use scholarly articles correctly. Also, it showed me the role of statistics in research, and how to collect, analyze and make inferences based on data obtained from an experiment. Moreover, I learned laboratory safety, and how to write a scientific journal. Chemistry 1305 will help me understand the basic knowledge of this project, such as characteristics of the materials employed and the details between different phenomena occurring during the characterization process. Additionally, classes like Material & Manufacturing Processes, and Mechanics of Materials provided me the basic knowledge of manufacturing processes, and quality assurance. I had worked with Dr. Lin on a Metamaterial Sensor project and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) project under his supervision. In these two projects, I have learned how to perform an experiment properly and was exposed to problems normally encountered in research. Additionally, last summer I worked in Freeport-McMoan where I was a Mechanical Engineering Intern in the Mine Maintenance department. During my internship, I collaborated with engineers of other departments to design and apply maintenance programs to improve equipment reliability. This project consisted of doing data and economic analysis, CAD, and project management. Currently I am in my second internship with the company with the Project Management department. These professional experiences provide me with better engineering skills to overcome real life challenges, and the opportunity to improve my soft skills. After I finish my Bachelor s Degree, I plan on pursuing a Doctorate s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. As graduate degrees demand different skills than a Bachelor s Degree, I feel this research will weigh heavily on my future. This project offers me experience not available in textbooks or classrooms, as it deals with real world problems and experimental procedures, it will develop my critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. This experience will help during my Bachelor s Degree and eventually in my Doctorate s Degree. Finally, this research project will help me in better understanding how concepts from different disciplines are employed to develop a solution to real world problems.

6 Display Transcript Luis C. Delfin Manriquez Jun 15, :11 pm This is NOT an official transcript. Courses which are in progress may also be included on this transcript. Institution Credit Transcript Totals Courses in Progress Transcript Data STUDENT INFOMATION Curriculum Information Current Program BS in Mechanical Eng. Major: Mechanical Engineering ***Transcript type:uno is NOT Official *** INSTITUTION CEDIT -Top- Term: Fall 2015 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit CHEM 1305 Main General Chemistry HONOS A MATH 1411 Main Calculus I A WS 1301 Main hetoric & Composition I HONOS A SCI 1301 Main Inquiry in Math & Science A Page 1 of 6

7 Term: Spring 2016 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit CHEM 1105 Main Laboratory for CHEM 1305 A MATH 1312 Main MECH 1305 Main MECH 1321 Main WS 1302 Main Calculus II A Graphic & Design Fundamentals A Mechanics I-Statics A hetoric & Composition 2 A Term: Summer 2016 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit PHYS 2420 Main Introductory Mechanics A SC 4033 Main Undergraduate esearch S Page 2 of 6

8 Term: Fall 2016 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit MATH 2313 Main Calculus III A MECH 2311 Main MECH 2322 Main MUSL 1327 Main SC 4033 Main Intro to Thermal-fluid Sci A Mechanics of Materials A Jazz to ock (C) A Undergraduate esearch S Term: Spring 2017 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit HIST 1302 Main History of U.S. Since 1865 (C) A MECH 2331 Main MECH 2340 Main MECH 2342 Main SC 4033 Main Matl & Manufacturing Processes A Mechanics II - Dynamics A Electro Mechanical Systems A Undergraduate esearch S Page 3 of 6

9 Term: Summer 2017 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit COOP 0001 Main Cooperative Education S Term: Fall 2017 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit CE 2326 Main Econ for Engrs & Scientists A MECH 2131 Main MECH 2351 Main MECH 3312 Main MECH 3314 Main MECH 3323 Main Manufacturing Engineering Lab A Engineering Analysis I A Thermodynamics A Fluid Mechanics B Solid Mechanics Lab A Term: Spring 2018 Page 4 of 6

10 Eligible to e-enroll Subject Course Level Title Grade Credit MECH 3313 Main Thermo-Fluids Lab A MECH 3334 Main MECH 3345 Main MECH 3352 Main MECH 4315 Main Mechanical Design A System Dynamics A Engineering Analysis II A Heat Transfer A TANSCIPT TOTALS (UNDEGADUATE) Total Institution: Total Transfer: Overall: COUSES IN POGESS -Top- -Top- Term: Summer 2018 Subject Course Level Title COOP 0001 Main Cooperative Education Credit Term: Fall 2018 Subject Course Level Title MECH 4316 Main Thermal System Design Credit Page 5 of 6

11 MECH 4326 Main Finite Element Analysis MECH 4336 Main Principles of Engr Design MECH 4346 Main Mechatronics POLS 2310 Main Introduction to Politics (C) ELEASE: Ellucian Company L.P. and its affiliates. Page 6 of 6