Microstructures in Polymer Blends and Solutions

这项研究的主要主题是利用官能团之间的相互作用，如库仑相互作用，在聚合物体系中形成微结构。虽然研究首先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，但重点是通过引入相互作用，如静电电荷，来创建聚合物材料的微区。与莫斯科国立大学的A.Khokhlov的合作将补充这些实验，Khokhlov将提供关于如何根据自由能考虑计算形成微域的簇和聚集体的理论发展。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系统，这些系统将与埃克森美孚的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，对于加深对微结构形成的理解至关重要。这项研究工作涉及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的宏观性能的理解。

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.