RI-IWEAR Research Seminar XVI
Research Institute / Research Centre Seminar
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Date
12 Jul 2024
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Organiser
RI-IWEAR
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Time
10:30 - 12:00
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Venue
Y303, 3/F, Lee Shau Kee Building, PolyU & Online via Zoom Map
Speaker
Prof. Robert J YOUNG
Enquiry
Ms Savannah WANG savannah.wang@polyu.edu.hk
Remarks
An e-Certificate of attendance will be provided for the participant attended in person. Latecomers or early leavers of the seminar might NOT be eligible for the certificate.
Summary
Topic: Topic: The Promises and Challenges of Multifunctional Nanocomposites
By Prof. Robert J YOUNG
The exceptional physical properties of nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and other 2D materials, often exceed those of their bulk counterparts. This make them ideal potential fillers in polymer-based and other composite systems. In particular, they offer the promise of multifunctional nanocomposites, whereby one material may deliver performance for applications in which materials excel in two or more beneficial characteristics. Nanomaterials, however, often struggle to deliver on this promise. In order to understand these challenges, factors such as nanofiller dimensionality, structure, size, geometry and distribution that control the individual mechanical, electrical, thermal and barrier properties of polymer-based nanocomposites will be reviewed. It is found that these factors are often conflicting in their demands for different properties, causing issues with designing multifunctionality, and leading to compromises having to be made. Finally it will be demonstrated how, through careful design, control of the microstructure through different processing methods and the possible use of hybrid systems, multifunctionalility may be delivered with nanocomposites. Examples of the preparation and applications of multifunctional nanocomposites will be discussed.
Keynote Speaker
Prof. Robert J YOUNG
MAE, FREng, FRS
Emeritus Professor of Polymer Science and Technology,
Department of Materials,
University of Manchester
Prof. YOUNG was educated at the University of Cambridge, UK and became Professor of Polymer Science and Technology in Manchester in 1986. He was the founding Head of the School of Materials in the newly-formed University of Manchester in 2004, which is now the largest university materials department in the UK and the focus of major UK materials research initiatives. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (2013), Royal Academy of Engineering (2006) and Academy of Europe (2015). His main research interest is the relationships between structure and properties in polymers and composites. He has introduced of a number of revolutionary techniques that have given a completely new insight into the micromechanics of deformation in fibres and composites. In particular, he has pioneered the use of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of deformation processes that take place at the molecular level. Over recent years he has extended this approach to the mechanics of deformation of graphene and other 2D materials in nanocomposites. His Google Scholar H-index is now 100 and his contribution in research has been recognised through numerous invitations to give Plenary and Keynote lectures at International Conferences and through the awards of the Griffith Medal (2002), Holliday Prize (2011), Swinburne Medal and Prize (2012) and Platinum Medal (2019) from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
