Copolymers and Plasticized Polymers at Interfaces

技术摘要：本研究的重点是确定共聚物和增塑聚合物吸附在颗粒表面的行为，以及纳米复合材料的开发，其中聚合物与颗粒的相互作用对其在不同应用中的使用至关重要。吸附在界面上的聚合物具有与散装聚合物相比发生改变的特性。由于大多数界面聚合物系统是不透明的，因此它们的表征通常很困难，有时甚至无法用许多技术来确定。各种技术，包括核磁共振光谱（NMR）、调制差示扫描量热法（MDSC）和傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）将被用来了解这些重要界面系统的行为。该项目的智力价值在于了解共聚物和增塑聚合物在界面处的行为以及聚合物在纳米复合系统中的作用。共聚物通常用于表面体系，因为单个单体的存在并不总是具有特定应用的首选性能。考虑到单体的不同特性，界面处的共聚物与它们的整体行为相比，在结构和动力学上存在差异。增塑剂在表面聚合物中的表现也可能与散装聚合物中的表现不同。随着特殊标记增塑剂的合成，应该有可能了解增塑剂在表面吸附聚合物中的行为。在增塑剂对所吸附的聚合物无效的情况下，应该有可能确定聚合物是否排除增塑剂或有效地将其困在表面受约束的聚合物构型中。这项工作也将有助于理解聚合物在纳米复合材料中不同应用的作用，例如电子和催化应用。这个项目的重点是提供聚合物材料在界面处的行为和聚合物在纳米复合系统中的作用的基本科学理解。这项工作更广泛的影响在于将这些知识应用于聚合物与固体纤维和填料结合使用的新系统的设计中。通过对聚合物界面层的理解，可以改进结构、电子和其他设备。此外，基于纳米复合材料研究获得的信息，存储器和催化传感器等设备可以更容易地开发出来。向各级学生提供的综合培训将是这项工作的另一个重要好处。他们将在聚合物/材料领域接受广泛的教育，在聚合物合成、聚合物表征、聚合物物理和电子特性方面具有特定的专业知识。在他的职业生涯中，PI一直非常活跃于教育和推广活动，并将通过这个奖项继续这样做。

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT This research is focused on determining the behavior of copolymers and plasticized polymers adsorbed on the surfaces of particles and on the development of nanocomposites where the interaction of the polymer with the particles is critical to their use in different applications. Polymers adsorbed at interfaces have properties that are altered compared to those in bulk. Their characterization is often difficult and sometimes impossible to determine with many techniques, as most of the interfacial polymer systems are opaque. A variety of techniques, including, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and also modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), and Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) will be used to understand the behavior of these important interfacial systems. The intellectual merit of this project lies in the understanding of the behavior of copolymers and plasticized polymers at interfaces and the role of polymers in nanocomposite systems. Copolymers are often used in surface systems because the presence of a single monomer alone does not always have the preferred properties for a specific application. Given the different characteristics of monomers, copolymers at interfaces will have differences in structure and dynamics compared to their behavior in bulk. Plasticizers may also behave differently in surface polymers than in bulk. With the synthesis of specially labeled plasticizers, it should be possible to understand how the plasticizer behaves in surface adsorbed polymers. In situations where the plasticizer is not effective in the adsorbed polymers, it should be possible to determine if the polymer excludes the plasticizer or effectively entraps it in the constrained polymer configuration at the surface. This work will also help in understanding the role of polymers in nanocomposites for different applications, e.g. electronic and catalytic applications.NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis project is focused on providing fundamental scientific understanding of the behavior of polymeric materials at interfaces and the role of polymers in nanocomposite systems. The broader impact of the work lies in the application of this knowledge to the design of new systems where polymers are used in conjunction with solid fibers and fillers. Structural, electronic and other devices can be improved by an understanding of the interfacial layers of polymers. In addition, devices such as memory and catalysis sensors can be more readily developed based on information gained through research on nanocomposite materials. The integrated training provided to students, at all levels, will be another significant benefit of this work. They will receive a broad-based education in the polymer/materials area with specific expertise in polymer synthesis, polymer characterization, physical and electronic properties of polymers. The PI has been very active throughout his career in educational and outreach activities and will continue to do so through this award.