Study of Processability of Dielectric Polymers and Nanocomposites for High-Energy-Density Capacitors (GRANT11999583) DURIP

he DURIP proposal is for the acquisition of a state-of-the-art laboratory mixer and extruder system from Thermo Scientific to substantially enhance the Wang groups ability of collaborative and interdisciplinary research and education in the area of dielectric polymers and nano-composites for high-energy-density capacitors. High-performance capacitors are a crucial class of energy storage devices to meet DoD needs. The proposed instrument enables, for the first time, a comprehensive study of processability of dielectric polymers and nano-composites, including optimization of process parameters, simulation of master process using a laboratory-scale amount of materials, compounding polymers with additives, 2D extrusion, and creation of blown films, etc. The processing of dielectric materials plays a key role in determining the feasibility and also performance of the laboratory-researched materials for real capacitor applications. The requested instrument provides an unprecedented access to a library of process-relevant materials data that would greatly facilitate the dielectric materials research via systematic investigation of structure-processing-performance correlations.