Chemo-mechanical modelling of deformation and fracture in biodegradable polymers

可生物降解聚合物变形和断裂的化学机械建模

• 批准号: 2887858
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Oxford
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Studentship
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=studentship-2887858
• 关键词: Chemo; mechanical; modelling; deformation; fracture

Biodegradable polymers are eco-friendly and find use in various applications due to their ability to gradually break down once their purpose is served. They constitute a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, especially in areas such as packaging, films, and coatings. They are also attractive materials in healthcare applications including implants, sutures, and drug delivery devices, thanks to their biocompatibility and adjustable properties. In these applications, biodegradable polymers must maintain their designed morphology and possess suitable mechanical properties (stiffness, strength, and toughness) before completing their structural function.However, a major challenge in maintaining the performance of these polymers is their brittleness. In healthcare applications, the development of cracks can generate fragments that may result in complications and, in extreme cases, prove fatal. In sustainability applications, premature material fracture curtails the operational lifespan and diminishes overall performance. The chemical reactions that cause degradation (e.g. hydrolysis) can also create defects like voids and microcracks, and stress-assisted degradation can accelerate the rate of crack growth. This involves a complex interplay between chemistry and mechanics, not yet fully understood.This project aims to develop a comprehensive chemo-mechanical continuum modelling framework to simulate the deformation and fracture by stress-assisted chemical degradation in biodegradable polymers. The continuum model will account for key aspects including the inelastic deformations of the polymer network, chemical reactions, and diffusion of reactants. It will be integrated into powerful computing tools for testing these materials under various loading conditions. The project will also explore how different environmental factors affect cracking and investigate various degradation pathways. Additionally, it will examine how the polymer's chemistry and structure influence crack growth. The project will provide significant benefits to both research and industry. It will offer guidelines for tailoring biodegradable polymers, improving their performance and durability. It will create tools for designing biodegradable devices more rationally and efficiently, limiting the need for time-consuming and costly experimental trial-and-error approaches. Additionally, it will enhance the safety and performance of biodegradable devices, benefiting fields like medicine, packaging, and engineering. Ultimately, it can transform industries by promoting sustainability and efficiency while reducing environmental impact. The project is strongly rooted within the Engineering theme of EPSRC, where it primarily fits within the Continuum Mechanics subtheme and is also relevant to the Polymer materials subtheme.

可生物降解的聚合物是生态友好的，并且由于它们一旦达到目的就能够逐渐分解的能力而在各种应用中找到用途。它们是传统塑料的可持续替代品，特别是在包装、薄膜和涂料等领域。由于它们的生物相容性和可调节性能，它们也是医疗保健应用中有吸引力的材料，包括植入物，缝合线和药物输送装置。在这些应用中，生物可降解聚合物必须保持其设计的形态，并在完成其结构功能之前具有合适的机械性能（刚度、强度和韧性）。然而，保持这些聚合物性能的一个主要挑战是它们的脆性。在医疗保健应用中，裂纹的发展可能会产生碎片，这些碎片可能导致并发症，在极端情况下甚至是致命的。在可持续性应用中，过早的材料断裂会缩短使用寿命并降低整体性能。导致降解的化学反应（例如水解）也会产生空隙和微裂纹等缺陷，而应力辅助降解会加速裂纹生长的速率。这涉及到化学和力学之间复杂的相互作用，尚未完全理解。该项目旨在开发一个全面的化学-力学连续模型框架，以模拟可生物降解聚合物中应力辅助化学降解的变形和断裂。连续介质模型将考虑关键方面，包括聚合物网络的非弹性变形，化学反应和反应物的扩散。它将被集成到强大的计算工具中，用于在各种载荷条件下测试这些材料。该项目还将探索不同的环境因素如何影响开裂，并研究各种降解途径。此外，它将研究聚合物的化学和结构如何影响裂纹扩展。该项目将为研究和工业带来重大利益。它将为定制可生物降解的聚合物提供指导，提高其性能和耐用性。它将为更合理和有效地设计可生物降解的设备创造工具，限制对耗时和昂贵的实验试错方法的需求。此外，它还将提高可生物降解设备的安全性和性能，使医药、包装和工程等领域受益。最终，它可以通过促进可持续性和效率，同时减少对环境的影响来改变行业。该项目深深植根于EPSRC的工程主题，它主要适合连续体力学子主题，也与聚合物材料子主题相关。