Spatio-Temporal Emergence of Morphological Patterns in Liquid Crystalline Polymer and Rigid-Rod Polymer Systems during Solidification

本建议需要实验和理论阐明（i）的主链液晶聚合物（MCLCP）和/或刚性棒聚合物溶液的固化过程中的中空纤维（或纳米管）形成的动力学，（ii）在图案聚合过程中的单体介孔纳米多孔膜的动力学，（iii）在干喷纺丝过程中的微纤维形成的动力学，和（iv）混合复合材料。 将采用成熟的时间依赖性Ginzburg-Landau TDGL（模型C）与平流项一起跟踪溶剂蒸发和流动。 将阐明与控制非线性反应扩散方程有关的所有参数的物理意义，并证明它们的预测能力。 图案形成的动力学将通过与干喷和/或静电纺丝中最近的实验观察进行比较来研究。 认识到可能的控制域形态和介晶相互作用的理解，拟议的研究将扩展到微孔膜和纳米复合材料。 这里提出的理论方案演示了基于局部自由能和非局部梯度（扩散）项的序参数（如密度，浓度和取向波动）的时空演化。 数值模拟进一步说明了凝固过程中局部内部结构的出现。 此外，该方法可以应用于阐明微纤化动力学在半结晶聚合物和氢键系统spinning.It是令人鼓舞的辨别独特的形态特征，包括（i）纳米管的形成，（ii）同心环/螺旋破裂导致微纤化和（iii）粘性指状图案。 螺旋破裂现象是可激发介质和生物系统的非线性动力学中最具争议的话题之一。 此外，它清楚地表明了一种新的方法来预测溶液纺丝纤维中的形态发展，如粗糙的皮/芯结构，塌陷的肾形形态和微原纤的几十年的老问题。 这种方法具有潜在的现代技术应用，包括静电纺丝的纳米纤维/管，微孔膜通过图案光聚合诱导相分离，和纳米混合复合材料。 可以预见，这些微孔膜具有广泛的应用，例如作为燃料电池膜、过滤和药物递送。 此外，一些模拟程序已经用C++编写，并可以在LCD投影仪的帮助下在实时模式下显示。 这些互动节目被证明是有用的课堂教学和演示给公众。

The present proposal entails experimental and theoretical elucidation of (i) dynamics of hollow fiber (or nano-tube) formation during solidification of main chain liquid crystalline polymers (MCLCP) and/or rigid-rod polymer solution, (ii) dynamics of nano-porous membranes of monomeric mesognes during pattern polymerization, (iii) dynamics of microfibril formation during dry-jet spinning, and (iv) hybrid-composites. The well-established time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau TDGL (Model C) will be applied in conjunction with the advection term for the tracking of solvent evaporation and flow. The physical significanace of all parameters pertaining to the governing non-linear reaction-diffusion equations will be clarified, and their predictive capabilitieis will be demonstrated. The dynamics of pattern formation will be investigated by comparison with the recent experimental observations made in dry-jet and/or electro-spinning. Recognizing the possible control of domain morphology and improved understanding of mesogenic interactions, the proposed study will be extended to microporous membranes and nano-composites. The theoretical scheme proposed here demonstrates the spation-temporal evolution of the order parameters (such as density, concentration and orientation fluctuations) based on the local free energy and non-local gradient (diffusive) terms. The numerical simulation further illustrates the emergence of the local internal structures during solidification. Moreover, this methodology can applied to elucidating the microfibrillation dynamics in spinning of semicrystalline polymers and hydrogen bonding systems.It is encouraging to discern unique morphological features encompassing (i) nano-tube formation, (ii) concentric rings/spiral-breakup leading to microfibrillation and (iii) viscous fingering patterns. The observed phenomenon of spiral breakup is one of the most debated topics in the no-linear dynamics of excitable media and biological systems. Furthermore, it clearly demonstrates a new approach to the decades-old problem of predicting morphology development in solution-spun fibers such as rough skin/core structures, collapsed kidney shape morphology, and microfibrils. This methodology has potential for modern technological applications including electro-spinning of nano-fibers/tubes, microporous membranes through pattern photopolymerization induced phase separation, and nano-hybrid composites. It is anticipated that these microporous membranes have widespread applications usch as fuel cell membranes, filtration, and drug delivery. Furthermore, some of the simutaion programs have been written in C++ and can be shown on live-mode with the aid of an LCD projector. Such interactive programs are proven to be useful for classroom teaching and demonstration to the public.