U.S.-Australia Cooperative Research: Macromolecular Modeling of Polymeric Stabilization of Colloidal Dispersions

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This award will support collaborative research between Dr. Wayne Mattice of the University of Akron and Dr. Donald Napper of the University of Sidney. Polymer colloids are important industrial materials. They must be stabilized against coagulation to be effective. Steric stabilization, using block copolymers, is one means of suppressing coagu- lation. If the block copolymer is to be effective in steric stabilization, the anchoring block must bind tightly to the colloidal particle. One objective of this collaboration is to develop the new technology of Macromolecular Modeling so that it can provide insight into the local structure of the anchoring block in the immediate vicinity of the colloidal particle. An additional requirement for a block copolymer that will be effective in steric stabilization is that the stabilizing block must interact repulsively with both the anchoring block and the colloidal particle, and interact attractively with the dispersion medium (solvent). The second objective of the collaboration is to develop Macromolecular Modeling of the structure in the immediate vicinity of the junction between the anchoring block and the stabilizing block. It is in the vicinity of the junction that the interaction of the copolymer with the solvent changes from repulsive to attractive. The project represents excellent collaboration between Dr. Napper, with his broad knowledge of the properties of sterically stabilized polymer colloids and Dr. Mattice's expertise in block polymers. The research represents a coordinated approach to make an important contribution to improved understanding of the interaction of anchoring and stabilizing blocks against coagulation in polymer colloids, an important industrial material.