Date of Award
1-1-2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D. in Engineering Science
First Advisor
Sasan Nouranian
Second Advisor
Byron Villacorta
Third Advisor
Nathan Murray
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This work focuses on designing and optimizing a multilayer polymer system (MLPS) for force protection applications, consisting of a front layer, sublayer, and back layer. The front layer was developed using high-concentration graphene nanoplatelet (GNP)-enabled polymers, specifically (poly vinyl alcohol) PVA and (polyurea) PU, as alternatives to brittle ceramic layers. The sublayer was tailored using ABS-GNP composites as a replacement for the traditional Kevlar middle layer. In the development of the front layer, PVA-based nanocomposites were optimized with a specific dispersing agent to enhance mechanical and thermal properties. These nanocomposites demonstrated significant improvements in stiffness, storage modulus, and energy dissipation, showcasing their potential as lightweight and versatile front layers. The PU-based front layer was fabricated by incorporating aminopropyl isobutyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (amino-POSS)-functionalized GNPs into the PU resin, yielding substantial enhancements in stiffness, toughness, and energy absorption, especially at lower GNP concentrations. These findings highlight the ability of tailored GNP-POSS nanofillers to elevate the mechanical performance of PU films for impact-resistant applications. The sublayer was designed to absorb energy from high-velocity impacts, with ABS identified as the optimal polymer due to its superior performance under dynamic loading. GNP fillers were incorporated into ABS in varying concentrations and different stacking multilayers, with results showing that efficient dispersion of nanoparticles significantly enhanced compressive strength and energy absorption. Multilayer stacking configurations were evaluated, revealing that stacking sequence, nanoparticles content, and dispersion critically influence dynamic mechanical properties.
Recommended Citation
Tabaei, Mohammad Mansourian, "Graphene-Based Multilayer Polymer Nanocomposite Systems for Force Protection Applications" (2024). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3020.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3020
