NER: Computational Design of Nanostructured Complex Fluid Formulations: A Feasibility Study

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ABSTRACTCTS-0304596G. Fredrickson, U of CA Santa BarbaraThis exploratory research project will assess the feasibility of conducting direct numerical simulations of nanostructure development during processing of complex fluid formulations of importance in several industries, such as paints, coatings, polymer alloys, cosmetics and processed foods. Advances in synthetic methods for producing copolymers have enabled exciting new multiphase complex fluids formulations in which the domain size falls in the nanometer range, 1-100 nm, and the geometrical arrangement of the domains can be precisely controlled by varying copolymer architecture, processing and composition variables. The framework for the simulations will be a field theoretic technique recently developed for equilibrium self-assembly and phase behavior, which will be extended to non-equilibrium systems that include couplings to stress strain and momentum density fields. The approach will be validated against experimental data on shear-induced microstructure development in poly(vinylcyclohexane)-poly(ethylene) multiblock copolymers, which have emerged as top candidates for advanced optical media resins. The project is being funded by CTS/ENG and DMR/MPS.