This award supports collaboration on polycarbonate/epoxy copolymers and coating systems between James Bell, University of Connecticut and Yu Yunchao, Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Chemistry. Polycarbonate is widely used for optical applications such as windows in airplanes and trains, or for eyeglasses, but has poor scratch and abrasion resistance. Epoxies are considerably harder, but do not have the toughness and impact resistance of polycarbonate. In this proposal, the mechanical and chemical properties of epoxy-polycarbonate reacted systems will be investigated, as will the properties of reacted epoxy coatings on solid polycarbonate. This research could lead to an improved composite with both toughness and surface hardness and should help illuminate the mechanism of toughening of high glass transition temperature polymers.
