Title: Nanofiller Strengthening of Polyurethane Foams:  Building a Better Surfboard

Speaker: Bevan Weissman, NECIS Student, Brown University

Date/Time: Tuesday, August 22, 2006, 1:30 – 2:00 pm

Location: Bldg. 915 Room W133 (Sandia-CA)

Brief Abstract: Polymer foams produced at Sandia have traditionally been used as impact protection material for the sensitive electronic components in nuclear missile systems.  However, a recent market opening has shown that Sandia’s TufFoam may be an ideal material for surfboard blanks.  The goal of this summer’s project was to explore and characterize the strengthening effect of nanomaterials in TufFoam.  In addition to the success of various physical strengtheners, epoxy resin was discovered to be a potent chemical strengthener in this system. 

CSRI POC: Andrew Vance, (925) 294-1357