• Develop new polymer nanocomposites;

• Measurement, instrumentation in nanocomposites ;

• Industrial applications in nanocomposites;

• Modeling of mechanics of nanocomposites.

Research in nanotechnology:

• Carbon nanofibers (nanotubes) / polymer nanocomposites;

• Nanoclay /epoxy nanocomposites;

• Electrospinning nanofibers;

• Nanomechanics.

Projects:

For general information: Dr. Suong V. Hoa ( hoasuon@alcor.concordia.ca)

• Nanoclay/ Epoxy nanocomposites

0

200

400

600

800

0 3 6 9 12

Clay Loading, phr

G1C

, J

/m2

DM

HPM-E

HPM-A

Area Increase

0.4

0.8

1.2

1.6

2

0 3 6 9 12

Clay Loading , phr

K1C

, M

Pa.

m1/

2

DMHPM-EHPM-A Mixing methods:

DM ─Direct Mixing;

HPM ─High Pressure Mixing.

Fracture toughness G1C increase about 6 times, K1c increase 120%.

• Carbon nanotubes/nanofiber / Epoxy nanocomposites

1.E-14

1.E-13

1.E-12

1.E-11

1.E-10

1.E-09

1.E-08

1.E-07

1.E-06

1.E-05

1.E-04

1.E-03

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

nanofiller wt %

co

nd

uc

tiv

ity

S

/cm

EPX + EG

EPX + CNF

EPX + MWNT

E862 + MWNT (acetone)

E862 + MWNT (THF)

Electrical Conductivity increases about 10 decades. Electrical conductive resin can be used for EMI (electromagnetic interference)/ RFI (radio frequency interference) shielding applications.

For general information: Dr. Suong V. Hoa ( hoasuon@alcor.concordia.ca)

• Flame retardance / self extinguishing nanocomposites

•Vertical burning tester (left) & Oxygen Index Analyzer (right)

•Epoxy with 3% I.30E nanoclay show 35% increase in LOI index.

Instrumentation:

• High Presure Machine• Powerful Vacuum Mixer• High Speed Mixer • Brabender IntelliTorque Rheometer / Mixer• Haake Minilab Microextruder

For nanocomposite process: • Break agglomerated particles under 1 μm.• Eliminate even sub-micron air bubbles.

Regular mixing High pressure mixing

SEM of 6wt% I.30E /Epoxy sample

For general information: Dr. Suong V. Hoa ( hoasuon@alcor.concordia.ca)

• Electro spinning

•Tensile Test by MTS nanoBionix: (A) PVA nanofibers, ø2µm; (B) PEO nanofibers ;

A

BInstrumentation:

• MTS NanoUTM : the most advanced machine in nanofiber study.

• Vecco AFM (Atomic Force Microscope)

• Hysitron NanoIndentation

For general information: Dr. Suong V. Hoa ( hoasuon@alcor.concordia.ca)

• Self healing Epoxy

Concordia Centre for Composites

Bridges the research and industrial applications, and promotes the future of nanocomposites.

http://concom.encs.concordia.ca/

Neat sample

Sample with healing agent

healed crack

Cracks healed

For general information: Dr. Suong V. Hoa ( hoasuon@alcor.concordia.ca)

Composite materials used in space applications are susceptible to damage due to space debris, thermal shock, and exposure to UV radiations.

New capsules filled with healing agent and catalyst were used as self healing agents. Different types of environmental conditioning tests were carried out. Preliminary thermal shock test showed healing of cracks in extreme temperature fluctuation environment.

For general information: Christine DeWolf (cdewolf@alcor.concordia.ca)For information regarding facilities and services: Rolf Schmidt (rschmidt@alcor.concordia.ca)

•Design, synthesis, and physical characterization of bio-inspired self-folding systems (Louis Cuccia)

•Study of light-induced electron transfer in organized membrane-bound pigment-protein complexes (Laszlo Kalman)

•Exploring structure-function relationships in photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes (Valter Zazubovits)

3 nm3 nm

BiomimeticsInstrumentationAtomic force microscopyScanning tunneling microscopyMolecular force probeEllipsometryGel permeation chromatographySingle entity detection/spectroscopy

Current applications

•‘Molecular springs’ for biotechnology and nanotechnology

•Artificial energy converters for sustainable future energy production

•Explosives detection

For general information: Christine DeWolf (cdewolf@alcor.concordia.ca)For information regarding facilities and services: Rolf Schmidt (rschmidt@alcor.concordia.ca)

Synthesis and characterization of upconverting lanthanide nanoparticles (John Capobianco)

Use of nanocapsules and nanoparticles in analytical separations (Cameron Skinner)

Nanoparticles and nanocapsules

InstrumentationScanning electron microscopyAtomic force microscopyOptical microscopyCapillary electrophoresisFlow cytometry of particlesLuminescence and fluorescence lifetime measurementsLaser induced fluorescene line narrowing spectroscopyRaman spectroscopy

Current applications– Biolabels and biological assays– Telecommunications– Bioseparations– Extraction and recovery of trace metals from solution

For general information: Christine DeWolf (cdewolf@alcor.concordia.ca)For information regarding facilities and services: Rolf Schmidt (rschmidt@alcor.concordia.ca)

Functional thin filmsDevelopment of functional surface coatings using nanopatterning techniques (Christine DeWolf)

Development of electrochemical measurement techniques for DNA-based biosensors (Marcus Lawrence)

InstrumentationLangmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett film balanceEllipsometryBrewster angle microscopyDynamic surface tensiometerContact angle measurementsAtomic force microscopyFluorescence microscopyCyclic voltammetryChronoamperometryImpedance spectroscopy

Current applications– Ultrahydrophobic surfaces– Biosensors– Biocompatible surfaces– Nanowires