GCSP research stipend | Spring 2020

Improvements on the design of spinneret extruder

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The objective of this research is to design of spinneret (extruder) that can consistently produce small diameter carbon fibers (CF) using the island-in-the-sea configuration using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as island and polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) as the sea. Facilitate the use of additive manufacturing to produce custom geometry that can withstand the corrosive behavior of polymers. Test fibers to deduce mechanical properties and observe fiber morphology to characterize the material.

Student researcher

Dean Spyres

Dean Spyres

Engineering (mechanical engineering systems)

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Graduation date: Summer 2021