12/06/19: Ara’s work is highlighted by MRS Scientific Highlight

Ara Kim, University of Massachusetts – Amherst

High-Strain Rate Plasticity of Block Copolymer Microspheres Correlating with Microphase Separation

Written by Jahlani Odujole

Motivated by cold-spray additive manufacturing, Ara Kim’s research group examined polystyrene (PS) and polydiomethylsiloxane (PDMS) for their impact behavior. Microparticles were fabricated. The researchers showed that furnaces anneal microparticles. A laser induced projectile test (LIPIT) was also introduced. The collision with the substrate were tracked using a microscope camera on the order of femtoseconds. Four substrates were tested in this process. Pre-impact deformation of the polymer materials occurred. The deformation effect was related to the acceleration. An analysis was done to compare bonding windows and critical velocity. The researchers are able to produce stable annealed microparticles. The goal of this research was to conduct experiments capable of providing information about the relationship between microspheres and their resulting separation.