Polymer Structures

Have you ever rode in a car and wondered how they made the tires strong enough to roll along the road? Tires are made by adding nanoparticles to polymers to create a new material that is stronger than the original. The job of engineers is to determine what polymers are going to be used to make the tire stronger. Also, they find out and test what structure they will make to hold the nanoparticle to increase the strength and help it last for a long time. Many different structures work equally well, but research is always being done to find better polymer structures.
black tire

Polymer Structures TEK8 Student Guide

The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.

Polymer Structures TEK8 Instructor’s Guide

This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.

Telling the Story Video

The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.

Design Challenge Video

The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.

PowerPoint Presentation

The presentation can be used in conjunction or in place of the Design Challenge Video.