Thermal Processing and Characterization Laboratory

Thermal Processing and Characterization Laboratory

The Thermal Processing and Characterization Lab stands as a cutting-edge facility dedicated to the study of thermal characteristics in a wide range of materials. Outfitted with state-ofthe-art equipment, the lab offers comprehensive thermal property testing, including assessments of thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, thermal stability, and the coefficient of thermal expansion. This versatile facility accommodates an extensive array of materials, spanning polymers, ceramics, metals, and their respective composites. The Thermal Property Characterization Lab’s ability to analyze various materials makes it a valuable resource for researching and understanding thermal behaviors across scientific domains.

Tools

Dilatometry Analysis of Materials

Dilatometry analysis is a powerful technique for understanding the thermal expansion and contraction behavior of materials and evaluate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). At PFL, we leverage the precision of dilatometry to unravel the phase transition, glass transition, sintering, and thermal stability of various materials including metal, polymer, and ceramic composites. Explore the capabilities of dilatometry with us to advance your materials research and development efforts.

Dynamic Mechanical Analysis

The functionality of this system involves assessing the mechanical properties of materials in relation to temperature, time, frequency, or other environmental factors, employing modes such as 3-point bending, compression, and flexural. In the context of Plasma Forming Laboratory applications, the system is utilized to measure various phenomena including phase transition, chain relaxation, changes resulting from the addition of reinforcing agents to a composite structure, and the damping factor of multiple materials.

Thermal Conductivity of Materials 

This laboratory is equipped with HyperFlash LFA 467 HT (Netzsh, Germany). The thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity instrument allow measurement from room temperature to 1100 °C with a heating rate of 50 °C/min. The equipment can be used to measure specimens with a diameter of 10 mm or cross section with 10 mm length. Materials including polymer, metals, ceramics, and their composites can be tested for their thermal conductivity.

Ongoing Research Projects

Advancing Space Exploration through Hybrid BNNT/BNNP Foam-Polymer Composites for MISSE-20 

Hybrid 1D boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)/2D boron nitride nanoplatelet (BNNP) foam-polymer composites have been developed by the Plasma Forming Laboratory (PFL) at Florida International University (FIU) in collaboration with NASA. These composites are destined for the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE)-20. These cutting-edge lightweight composites exhibit high thermal conductivity and stability. In addition, these composites exhibit high neutron radiation shielding properties and superior mechanical strength.
These hybrid 1D BNNT/2D BNNP foam-polymer composites were fabricated using freeze-drying and vacuum infiltration techniques. Their highly aligned microstructure forms a scaffold that facilitates thermal transport throughout the material, resulting in superior thermal conductivity compared to neat polymers. This enhancement can be attributed to the boron nitride nanomaterial network within the composite.
In addition, during neutron radiation shielding experiments at NASA Langley Research Center, these composites showcased a remarkable enhancement in neutron attenuation capacity compared to their neat polymer counterparts. As a result, they have been selected for radiation exposure experiments aboard the International Space Station under the MISSE-20 program