FPS: NASA Internship Monolith Testing (Ohio)

Internship ID #: GRC1-08-09-AN

Timings: Spring, Summer, Fall

Areas of Study: Aerospace, Aeronautical, Astronautical Engineering, Materials, Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics, Chemistry

Location: Glenn Research Center (GRC)

MONOLITH TESTING: Silica aerogels are attractive candidates for unique thermal, optical, catalytic, and chemical applications because of their low density and high mesoporosity. However, their inherent fragility has restricted their use to applications where they are not subject to load. Crosslinking silica aerogels with polymer significantly increases the strength of the aerogel with only a small effect on density or porosity. In addition, at very low densities, the aerogels crosslinked with a di-isocyanate are somewhat flexible. To enhance this property and make the monoliths more robust, synthesis of different formulations using more flexible linkages in the polymer backbone is proposed. Characterization and mechanical testing will be done on the monoliths produced and the properties will be optimized.

For the complete information on NASA's internships and this specific one visit the linked website to this post.

Posted by Sarah Haroon on October 27, 2008