Micro/Nano Mechanics Studies of Sandwich Foam Composites
PI: Fu-pen Chiang
Sandwich foam composites are light weight high strength structural materials. They are ideal materials for building high speed coastal patrol boats. This project investigates the micro mechanical properties of foam materials using a unique measuring technique called Speckle Inter-ferometry with Electron Microscopy which can provide strain distribution in an area only a few microns in size. By mixing a small portion of nanoparticles into a polymeric foam, the resulting material has a higher stiffness and also retards flame. Studies are being carried out on both the pure and the nanophased foam materials.