BIO

I am a junior at Florida State University, currently studying mechanical engineering. In my spare time, I enjoy star gazing, kayaking, fishing, building things, botany, and cooking gourmet food. I am from Crawfordville, Florida and have been employed with Publix Supermarkets for six years. My career goal is to secure a mechanical engineering job at Lockheed Martin. Once I obtain my career in mechanical engineering, I would like to design and create new types of aircraft for the future of aviation. Currently, I have been carrying out an internship for a year at the Aero-propulsion lab working with nanocomposite polymers. One of my greatest achievements to date at the lab was creating a humidity box from scratch that houses a mini tribometer. I hope that the hands-on experience that I have gained in the research program will help me become a better candidate for Lockheed and other aviation focused corporations.

Nanocomposite Polymers: The Future of Materials Used for Extreme Environments of Space

Abstract

Nanocomposite Polymers: The Future of Materials Used for Extreme Environments of Space
In this study, tribology experiments using industrial nanocomposite polymers as well as, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and (PTFE) were examined yielding ultra-low wear rates. The industrial polymers Rulon Gold and Rulon Maroon have been observed having elevated compressive abilities, low friction coefficients, and excellent wear rate characteristics, while PEEK is a Semi-Crystalline Thermoplastic used as a solid lubricant, showing above average wear rates, and PTFE, is an adaptable fluoropolymer. When these fillers are mixed, they can reduce the wear rate of PTFE by over 4 orders of magnitude (K~ 10-8 mm3/Nm). This reduction in wear can result in significant lifetime improvements of sliding joints in mechanical systems.
Sliding tests were the main component in this experiment; using tribometers holding polymer pens in a set position that removes a certain amount of material each time the polymer makes a pass on a small moving plate that is cycled back and forth in the horizontal direction. This amount of material was then calculated to determine the wear rate of the polymer. We compare the wear rate of the composites in two different configurations: 1) self-mated, where the polymer slides against another polymer of the same composition and 2) polymer sliding against steel. The best wear rates were generally in the self-mated configuration. This observation can completely change how mechanical systems can be designed in the future.

Keywords: polymers, space, lubricant