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Sarah C

- Research Program Mentor

MEng Master of Engineering candidate

Expertise

Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, Polymer Science, Fiber Science

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

All About Rubber: An in-depth study of the chemical and mechanical properties of elastomers

Polymers are some of the most relevant and impactful materials for everyday life, and the basis of all polymer science lies in understanding the structure-property relationships present in these macromolecules. In this project, you will gain a better understanding of the chemical and mechanical properties of rubber, an extremely familiar yet remarkably unique polymeric material. Through either hands-on experimentation or an in-depth literature review, you will research the chemical structure of rubber in order to understand the effect of temperature and vulcanization on its mechanical behavior. By the end of the project, you will be able to explain why rubber is classified as a liquid instead of a solid, why it contracts when it's heated, and how the addition of nanofillers makes it a material suitable for car tires. You will produce a scientific research paper based on your findings and learn how to refine your analytical abilities and technical writing skills.

Coding skills

Python, Matlab

Interested in working with expert mentors like Sarah?

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