The effect of alumina nanoparticles on the viscosity and curing behavior of a bisphenol E cyanate ester monomer suspension was investigated by rheometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The viscosity was found to increase with solids content and was fit well by the Mooney equation. Cure experiments indicate that alumina particles catalyze the curing of the suspensions. The viscosity reduction achieved at high particle loadings by the addition of benzoic acid was also investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance.
The U. S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory in Ames, Iowa was a coalition partner for outreach activities connected with NOVA's Making Stuff television series on PBS. Volunteers affiliated with the Ames Laboratory and Iowa State University, with backgrounds in materials science, took part in activities including a science-themed Family Night at a local mall, Science Cafés at the Science Center of Iowa, teacher workshops, demonstrations at science nights in elementary and middle schools, and various other events. We describe a selection of the activities and present a summary of their outcomes and extent of their impact on Ames, Des Moines and the surrounding communities in Iowa.In Part 2, results of a volunteer attitude survey are presented, which shed some light on the volunteer experience and show how the volunteers' participation in outreach activities has affected their views of materials education.
PART 1: SUMMARY OF EVENTS
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