Microstructures in Polymer Blends and Solutions

本研究的主题集中在聚合物体系中通过利用官能团之间的相互作用形成的微观结构，如库仑相互作用。虽然研究开始于在没有库仑相互作用的情况下使用嵌段共聚物，即中性聚合物，但将强调通过引入相互作用（如静电荷）来创建聚合物材料的微域。与莫斯科国立大学的a . Khokhlov的合作将补充这些实验，他将提供关于如何基于自由能考虑计算形成微域的簇和聚集的理论发展。实验限制与理论假设和近似的相互作用，包括使用定义明确的聚合物体系，这些体系将与埃克森美孚公司的D. G. Peiffer和莫斯科俄罗斯科学院有机元素化合物研究所合作合成；对于提供对微观结构形成的更深入的理解是必不可少的。研究工作与探索我们对如何在聚合物系统中操纵微观结构以在现有聚合物材料中实现特定宏观性能的理解有关。

The main theme of this research is centered on microstructures formed in polymer systems by taking advantage of the interplay between functional groups, such as coulombic interactions. Although the studies start by using block copolymers in the absence of coulombic interactions, i.e., neutral polymers, the creation of microdomains of polymeric materials by introducing interactions, such as electrostatic charges, will be emphasized. The experiments will be complemented by a collaboration with A. Khokhlov of Moscow State University who will provide theoretical development on how clusters and aggregations which form microdomains can be calculated based on free-energy considerations. The interplay of experimental limitations and theoretical assumptions and approximations, including the use of well-defined polymer systems which are to be synthesized in collaboration with D. G. Peiffer at Exxon and the Institute of Organo-Element Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, is essential to providing a deeper understanding on the formation of microstructures. The research effort is related to the exploration of our understanding on how microstructures can be manipulated in polymer systems in order to achieve specific macroscopic properties in existing polymer materials.