Date of Award
5-2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Chair
Dr. Jeffrey S. Wiggins
Committee Chair School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 2
Dr. Xiaodan Gu
Committee Member 2 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 3
Dr. Sarah E. Morgan
Committee Member 3 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 4
Dr. Sergei Nazarenko
Committee Member 4 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 5
Dr. Yoan Simon
Committee Member 5 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Abstract
This work chronicles an innovative approach for the solvent-free preparation of multifunctional nanocomposites from graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) dispersed in a thermoplastic-toughenend high Tg epoxy prepolymers utilizing the continuous high shear reactor. The continuous reactor provides a scalable, on-demand approach to simultaneously solubilize thermoplastics and curatives into epoxide while dispersing nanoparticles. Reaction induced phase separation was shown to depend not only on loading level, interaction parameters, and dispersity, but also the cure prescription influenced the phase separation mechanism, and methods were developed to observe phase separation in situ across length scales. The continuous high shear reactor was shown to effectively distribute and disperse GNPs with careful reactor design, and the dispersion of the resulting nanocomposite prepolymer was controlled through cure by controlling the rheological environment. The influence of reaction induced phase separation on nanoparticle dispersion was determined and compared with theoretical and computational models. Rheology, optical-hot stage microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy were utilized to directly and indirectly observe network morphology and the dispersion state of prepared prepolymer and cured materials.
Copyright
Matthew C. Hartline, 2026
Recommended Citation
Hartline, Matthew C., "Multifunctional Nanocomposites Prepared via Continuous High Shear Reactor" (2026). Dissertations. 2468.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2468
Included in
Fluid Dynamics Commons, Materials Chemistry Commons, Polymer and Organic Materials Commons, Polymer Chemistry Commons