NER: Nano-Composites Derived from Melt Blending an Ionomer and a Thermotropic Liquid Crystalline Polymer

该提案是根据纳米科学和工程倡议(NSF 01-157)收到的，类别：NER。本研究项目旨在加深对热致液晶聚合物(TLCP)和磺化聚苯乙烯离聚体共混物熔融复合过程中纳米复合材料形成的理解。当离聚体的锌盐和TLCP在高温下在密集熔体混合器中混合时，随机分散在离聚体基质中的均匀的长方形TLCP纳米晶体发生自组装。这些材料代表着一种潜在的商品，可熔融加工的纳米复合材料，可替代短纤维增强热塑性塑料或硅酸盐-粘土纳米复合材料。虽然纳米晶体的形成是健壮的和可重复性的，但纳米晶体的来源和组成尚不清楚。这项研究有四个目标：L)确定纳米晶体的来源，包括它们的组成和结构；2)确定纳米晶体在TLCP/SPS离聚体纳米复合材料中的增强程度；3)评估是否可以用其他磺化聚合物，如磺化聚醚酮酮或聚醚酰亚胺离聚体来制备类似的纳米复合材料；以及4)评估TLCP/SPS纳米复合材料是否可以与第三种聚合物共混，以制备以第三种聚合物为主要成分的纳米复合材料。除了包括在预算中的博士后研究助理外，研究生和本科生也将参与这项研究。这些成果将发表在科学期刊上，并在国家科学会议上公布。本科生将在学年期间通过自主学习或以REU学生的身份参加。一份关于“大分子工程”的IGERT已经提交给NSF，这项研究项目符合正在提出的IGERT计划的范围。代表不足的少数族裔学生将特别成为参与该项目的目标。将开发一个关于包括纳米技术在内的聚合物科学的讲座和演示教学模块。这将提供给高中和本科生大学的学生和教职员工。编写的教材将提供给这些机构的教职员工。还将与主要是本科院校的科学和工程学院建立研究合作关系。工业界将通过康涅狄格大学材料科学研究所的一个工业推广计划--伙伴计划--接触到研究结果。

The proposal was received in response to the nanoscale science and engineering initiative (NSF 01-157), category: NER. This research project is directed at developing an understanding of the formation of nanocomposite during melt compounding of blend of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) and a sulfonated polystyrene ionomer. Self-assembly of uniform, rectangular prism-shaped TLCP nano-crystals randomly dispersed in the ionomer matrix occurs when the zinc salt of the ionomer and the TLCP are mixed at elevated temperatures in an intensive melt mixer. These materials represent a potential commodity, melt processable nanocomposite alternative to short fiber-reinforced thermoplastics or silicate-clay nanocomposites. Although the formation of the nano-crystals is robust and reproducible, the origin and composition of the nano-crystals are not known. The proposed research has the following four objectives: l) determine the origin of the nano-crystals, including their composition and structure; 2) determine the extent of reinforcement offered by the nano-crystals in TLCP/SPS ionomer nanocomposites; 3) assess whether similar nanocomposites may be created with other sulfonated polymers, e.g., sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) or poly(etherimide ionomers; and 4) assess whether TLCP/SPS nanocomposites may be blended with a third polymer to produce a nanocomposite with the third polymer as the majority component.In addition to the post-doctoral research associate included in the budget, graduate and undergraduate students will also be involved with this research. The results will be published in scientific journals and presented at national scientific meetings. Undergraduate students will participate either through independent studies during the academic year or as REU students. An IGERT on "Engineering of Macromolecules" has been submitted to NSF, and this research project fits within the scope of the IGERT program being proposed. Under-represented minority students will be especially targeted for involvement in the project. A lecture and demonstrations teaching module about polymer science, including nanotechnology, will be developed. That will be offered to students and faculty at high schools and primarily undergraduate colleges. The teaching material developed will be made available to the faculty at those institutions. Research collaborations will also be established with science and engineering faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions. Industry will be exposed to the results of the research through the Associates Program, an industrial outreach program in the Institute of Materials Science at the University of Connecticut.