Overview
Project status: In progress
- Research team
- QUT
- Organisational unit
- Lead unit Science and Engineering Faculty
Associate Professor Cheng YanDetails
Polymer nanocomposites
The increasing demand for high performance polymers has drawn much attention on how their mechanical properties can be improved. Our investigation shows that rubber particles can significantly improve the fracture toughness of polymers while higher mechanical strength can be achieved by using clay as reinforcement.
These reinforced polymers are continuously finding their applications in making automotive parts, sewerage pipes, fibre composites, etc.
Characterization of nanocrystalline and amorphous alloys
The research in the last few decades has shown that nanocrystalline and amorphous alloys possess unique mechanical properties such as high strength, high elastic limit and even high ductility.
To develop next generation metallic materials, extensive work has been carried out to understand their deformation and failure mechanisms and structure-property relationships.
Polymer carbon nanotube composite strain sensor
Researchers at QUT are working on new carbon nanotube-polymer nanocomposite strain sensors. If the polymer-carbon nanotube nanocomposites are subjected to mechanical strain, a change in electrical resistance occurs. The high sensitivity to mechanical strain opens possibilities of realising a new class of carbon nanotube based devices with potential for strain, force and damage detection.
Current work is centred around the sensor fabrication, working principle and the effect of operating environment on the sensor performance.
