Processable Polymer Precursors to Poly(p-Phenylene-2,6- Benzobisoxazole and Poly(p-Phenylene-2,6-Benzobisthiazole)

一名研究生和一名本科生（都是少数民族）将与克拉克亚特兰大大学的一名化学家一起进行全面的研究，以制备和研究薄膜和纤维的物理和机械特性。这将通过制备聚合物来实现，这些聚合物是聚（对苯基- 2,6 -苯并二恶唑）（PBO）和聚（对苯基苯并二恶唑）（PBT）的化学前体，通常是非常棘手和难以加工的。前驱体将被设计成具有更高的溶解度和更低的熔点，通过减少对称性和防止氢键。前驱体聚合物一旦加工成薄膜或纤维，将通过高收率化学转化转化为PBO和PBT。前驱体聚合物和聚合物将通过红外显微镜和光谱学、1H、13C核磁共振波谱学、光散射光度法、差示扫描量热法、热重分析、偏光光学显微镜、凝胶渗透色谱法、溶解度、粘度法和x射线衍射等技术进行表征。在转化为PBT和PBO之前和之后，将对由前驱体和聚合物制成的薄膜和纤维进行物理测试，例如拉伸强度测量。

A graduate and an undergraduate student (both minorities) will work with a chemist at Clark Atlanta University in conducting comprehensive research to prepare and study the physical and mechanical properties of films and fibers. This will be achieved by preparing polymers which are chemical precursors to poly (p-phenylene-2, 6- benzobisoxazole) (PBO) and poly (p-phenylene benzobisthiazole) (PBT) which are normally very intractable and difficult to process. The precursors will be designed to have higher solubility and lower melting points by decreasing the symmetry and preventing hydrogen bonding. Once processed into films or fibers the precursor polymers will be converted to PBO and PBT by high yield chemical transformations. The precursor polymers and polymers will be characterized by techniques including infrared microscopy and spectroscopy, and 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, light scattering photometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, polarizing optical microscopy, gel permeation chromatography, solubility, viscometry and x- ray diffraction. Physical testing, such as, tensile strength measurements will be performed on films and fibers made from the precursors and polymers, before and after transformation to PBT and PBO.