February 21, 2000

Bowling Green, Ky. -- Western Kentucky University's Thermal Analysis Laboratory has received a nearly $300,000 grant from the U.S. Air Force.

The project will determine the thermal stability, degradation and other properties of a new class of materials that offer an outstanding combination of stiffness, strength and low weight that is difficult to attain separately from the individual components.

The research, "A Study of the Thermal Analysis Stability, Degradation Mechanisms and Properties of Polymer/Organically Modified Layered Silicate Nanocomposites," is part of a three-year contract with the Air Force, according to Dr. Wei-Ping Pan, a professor in Western's Department of Chemistry and the Materials Characterization Center.

The nanocomposites are very small materials that would have applications in the aerospace industry, he said. The project is a collaborative effort among Western, the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Southern Clay Products, Inc., and Triton Systems, Inc.

Research will be conducted at Western's renovated laboratory facilities on the South Campus and will involve two graduate and three undergraduate students. Students also will travel to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base during the project, he said.

Dr. Pan will be the project director with assistance from Dr. John T. Riley and Dr. Charles W.M. Lee.
-WKU-
For more information, contact the Department of Chemistry at (270) 745-3457. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at <www.wku.edu>, click on "WKU News."
ETN/Chemistry/afgrant.wpd