Preparation of phenol/formaldehyde nanocomposites with tetraethylorthosilicates

CHED 695

Zachary A. Whitfield, ze_dub@msn.com, Department of Chemistry, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee University, P.O. Box 6977, Tuskegee Institute, AL 36088, Adriane Ludwick, aludwick@tusk.edu, Center for Advanced Materials, Tuskegee University, Armstrong Hall Annex-A, Tuskegee, AL 36088, and Mary Ellen Rogers, Mary.E.Rogers@hotmail.com, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Tuskegee University, 110 Chappie James Center, Tuskegee, AL 36088.
The objective of this project is to improve the mechanical properties of phenolic polymeric systems. Previous studies conducted with nanosilicates being incorporated into phenolic polymers have shown improvements in the polymers' properties. Also, earlier studies have shown that a mixture of p-bromophenol (PBP) and phenol improved the polymers' properties. In this study the approach to incorporating the nanosilicates in the polymer was done by creating a sol-gel with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). This process was performed on swelled cured phenol samples. A 1:1 phenol/PBP formaldehyde polymer sample and a phenol formaldehyde polymer sample were tested to compare results. The projects' main focus is producing reproducible void-free polymers, especially for mechanical testing, and determining solvents best for swelling the polymer. Characterization of the polymers will also include spectroscopic and thermal analysis. This project is possible because of NSF/IGERT funding.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 235th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 6-10, 2008