Towards the predictive design of PAEK-based polymers - from fundamental polymer physics to advanced materials applications

该项目的重点是开发一个预测框架，以控制聚合物中的玻璃形成和结晶，特别关注聚芳醚酮（PAEK）系列中高性能聚合物的有效设计。PAEK聚合物用于广泛的应用，包括智能手机扬声器，电气绝缘，汽车齿轮，医疗植入物和飞机部件。许多PAEK聚合物应用的高温性能要求通常需要高玻璃化转变温度（Tg），这反过来目前需要高熔点（Tm）和加工温度。然而，我们目前没有足够的基本理解的玻璃形成或结晶聚合物预测Tg或Tm的结构分子特征，在聚合物合成过程中选择。因此，本项目的目标是确定控制Tg和Tm平衡的方法。将使用广泛的实验技术，包括量热法，介电弛豫光谱，先进的流变学，散射（光，X射线，中子）和显微镜（光，电子），研究物理性能，包括PAEK聚合物的结构，动力学和力学。结果将解释和分析在光的当前国家的最先进的知识的玻璃化转变和结晶聚合物

This project is focused on developing a predictive framework to control glass-formation and crystallization in polymers, with a particular focus on the efficient design of high performance polymers within the Poly Aryl Ether Ketone (PAEK) family. PAEK polymers are used in a broad range of applications including smart-phone speakers, electrical insulation, automotive gears, medical implants and aircraft components. The high temperature performance requirements of many PAEK polymer applications typically demand high glass transition temperatures (Tg), which in turn currently requires high melting points (Tm) and processing temperatures. However, we presently do not have sufficient fundamental understanding of glass-formation or crystallization in polymers to predict Tg or Tm from the structural molecular characteristics, as chosen during polymer synthesis. The goal in this project is thus to identify methods to control the balance of Tg and Tm. The physical properties including structure, dynamics and mechanics of PAEK polymers with systematically varied molecular building blocks will be investigated using a wide range of experimental techniques including calorimetry, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, advanced rheology, scattering (light, x-rays, neutrons) and microscopy (light, electron). The results will be interpreted and analyzed in light of the current state-of-the-art knowledge of the glass transition and crystallization in polymers