1. On scale effects in composite modeling Larissa Gorbatikh Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of New Mexico Co-Sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Energy and the American Plastics Council, June 9-10, 2004, Arlington, Virginia

2. Increased demand for Applications Medical industry, Telecommunications, Automotive industry, Consumer electronics, etc (less-invasive surgical devices, sensors, tubes, implants, actuators, rotors, lenses, fiber-optic components, etc) Micro-moldingNano-composites parts super small super light low cost materials with novel advanced properties Above is a radio frequency carrier molded in LCP plastic. (Taken from the article ”Miniature Tool & Die is helping to mold the micro market” by Matt Kelly, Small Times) Larissa Gorbatikh, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico Problem of Scales

3. Current State Parts:<0.0001g <0.1cub mm Micro-molding Today Challenges: -- no standard tooling is available -- rules for traditional molding are not applied -- the lack of proven methods  trial and error approach -- new techniques for ultra small mold making (reactive etching, laser lithography, etc ) -- new injection machines (study of microfluidics, etc) -- new part handling and inspecting systems (strong microscopes) -- new prediction techniques and simulation software -- search for new materials and reinforcements  in depth investigation of scale effects Question to ask: -- limits of micromolding (possibility of nanomolding, molding without a mold, etc) Improvements needed: Larissa Gorbatikh, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico

4. Multi-scale Material Modeling Today Quantum mechanics Molecular dynamics (MD) Continuum mechanics (CM) Mechanics of materials Structural mechanics Bottom-up approach Top-down approach Bridging scales Novel properties Larissa Gorbatikh, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico Investigation of Scale-dependent microstructure- property relations for composite materials (top down) Our approach Concentrated effort is needed to develop explicit links between atomistic and continuum mechanics models.

5. Scale-dependent microstructure-property relations for composite materials Identify underlying mechanisms responsible for the existence of size effects when approaching nano-scale. Investigate the role of surface/ interface energy and stress in laws of nano-mechanics. Re-examine Eshelby problem for a single inhomogeneity by incorporating new effects into elastic solutions (driven by intermolecular forces). Derive compliance of a single nano-sized elastic inhomogeneity. Investigate interaction between inhomogeneities. Raise the question of the existence of homogenization techniques equivalent to the classical ones. Introduce a concept of crack-like flaws in nanomaterials, describe their characteristic properties and relate them to the material property degradation on nanoscale. Investigate the impact of microstructural parameters of the material on its effective properties. Provide a physical insight on the existence of new phenomena. The final product can be envisioned in the form of “a roadmap” to guide further advances in property prediction of composite materials with nano-scale structures. Our objectives: Larissa Gorbatikh, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico

6. building teams with appropriate cross-disciplinary mix of expertise finding access to high tech (costly) equipment and facilities bringing together manufacturing and science research (industry and academia) creating new infrastructure to support such complex interactions preparing new generation scientists … Requirements Understand mechanisms of deformation at the interface between matrix and inclusion in nanocomposites Understand fluid/surface interactions and fluid properties in nanofluidic applications Establish fundamental structure-property-processing-performance relationships for nanocomposites Short term technical goals: Highly Complex Problems