Speaker
Description
Poly(2,5)-benzimidazole (ABPBI) is a high-performance polymer with potential applications in extreme environments such as low Earth orbit (LEO), where vacuum-induced degradation and outgassing are critical concerns. In this study, ABPBI-based nanocomposites incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are investigated to evaluate their structural stability and outgassing behaviour under simulated vacuum conditions.
Composite samples are synthesised and subjected to controlled drying and humidity conditioning prior to vacuum exposure. A variety of pre- and post-exposure characterisation techniques, including SEM and FTIR, are conducted to assess chemical, structural, and mass changes.
In parallel, a simplified computational framework is developed to describe molecular outgassing processes within the polymer matrix, with atomistic models used to estimate relevant transport parameters.
Preliminary results aim to correlate experimental observations with computational predictions, providing insight into how nanofillers influence outgassing behaviour and overall material stability under vacuum conditions. The anticipated agreement between computational and experimental findings lays a foundation for further exploration of the durability of ABPBI composites in the volatile environment of LEO.
| Apply for student award at which level: | MSc |
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| Consent on use of personal information: Abstract Submission | Yes, I ACCEPT |