Download - Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute

The Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute
(EPRI) and the University of New Mexico (UNM)
cooperates to develop a new generation of fiber
reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The new
FRP is multi-scale in nature and incorporates
functionalized nanoparticles (e.g. nanoclay and
nanorubber) to enhance energy absorption
criteria.
The new multi-scale FRP will expand the use
of composites in the oil and gas industry
(onshore & offshore) typically governed by the
limited energy absorption of composite materials.
The project aim is to improve the energy
absorption of the polymer resin by producing a
new nanocomposite incorporating a balanced
mix of functional polyolefin rubber (EP)
nanoparticles and montmorillonite (o-mmt)
nanoparticles. This new toughened
nanocomposite is then used to produce FRP
composites. The research team at EPRI and
UNM acquired state-of-the-art equipment to
synthesize functionalized polyolefin rubber
nanoparticles, fabricate and characterize both
the nanocomposites and the FRP composite.
The research team is multidisciplinary in nature
combining the expertise of the two PIs and their
research groups from Egypt and the USA on
polymer chemistry, polymer characterization,
composite fabrication and composite testing.
The project is funded by US-Egypt Cooperative
Research Program administered by Science and
Technology Development Fund (STDF) in Egypt
and National Science Found-ation (NSF) in the
US.
Project Team:
Dr. Usama Farid Mahmoud Kandil (PI)
Prof. Dr Nevine Omar Shaker (Co-PI)
Prof Dr. Mahmoud Taha (PI-US)
Dr. Mohamed El-Shafie
Mrs. Mona Abdul-Sabour Ahmed
Mr. Ramadan Mosa Abd Rabbo
EPRI Annual Report 2012 30