RUI: Phase Separation Kinetics of Ternary Polymer Blends Containing a Random Copolymer

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9705424 Waldow This Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) award is for three years of support for a research program involving undergraduate students to study phase separation kinetics of a ternary polymer system. %%% Pesearch training is an integral component of a broad chemical education for undergraduate students. This research will complement the growing commitment to undergraduate research and will allow greater integration of research and teaching. The research plan focuses on kinetics of phase separation in binary polymer blends compatibilized with a random copolymer. The specific system is polybutadiene, polystyrene, and a random copolymer of butadiene and styrene. The phase separation kinetics will be measured using a temperature jump wide angle light scattering instrument constructed at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU). The resulting light scattering information will be compared with nucleation and growth as well as with spinodal decomposition theories. The results from these kinetics of phase separation studies (1) will provide new information about the effect a random copolymer has as a compatibilizer;(2) will help in making comparisons to theory and simulations;(3) will allow comparisons of efficacy of random copolymers as compared to published work on block copolymers; and lastly (4) may lead to information used in the design of random copolymer compatibilizers. ***