Method for Locally Measuring Strength of a Polymer-Inorganic Interface During Cure and Aging

The NMR relaxometry instrument developed in Phase I project will be refined and thoroughly calibrated for nondestructive evaluation of the structure and properties of polymer-inorganic interfaces. The system design, operation conditions and data acquisition/analysis algorithms will be improved for precise and reliable evaluation of the structure and properties of the interfaces formed between diverse polymers and inorganic materials with different surface treatments. The refined system will be capable of real-time, local and spatially resolved monitoring of the evolution of the interface structure and properties during curing, and their degradation under aging effects. The refined NMR system capabilities also include monitoring of moisture transport, quantitative evaluation of interfacial defects and stresses, and spatial mapping of gradient structures. A comprehensive experimental database will be developed by performing NMR relaxometry and diverse corroborative tests for thorough calibration of the refined NMR system, and its validation in different application conditions. Quantitative assessments will be made of the precision, reliability, repeatability, and the degree of statistical control offered by the refined NMR relaxometry instrument. Thorough assessments will be made of the competitive performance and cost merits of NMR relaxometry for nondestructive evaluation of polymer-inorganic interfaces as well as polymers and composites.