Solution Properties and Membrane Formation of New Block Copolymers

该项目涉及研究新型二嵌段和三嵌段共聚物在稀和半稀溶液中的物理性质及其加工成聚合物膜的过程。重点将放在高度不兼容的块上。与膜形成过程相关的物理性质将集中在：1)确定溶液中不同块段之间的相互作用参数；二嵌段和三嵌段共聚物在“选择性”溶剂中的物理行为（构象和溶胀）；嵌段共聚物凝胶的溶胀和力学性能。经共聚物溶液淬火得到膜；它们的结构和性质将被检查作为一个函数的初始聚合物浓度，相对大小的块，和淬火温度。低角度全强度光散射，粘度，动态光散射，机械测量和电子显微镜将被用来表征膜。该项目与南加州大学（USC）的一个项目同时得到资助，由Thieo E. Hogen-Esch教授领导的一个小组将与康奈尔大学由Cohen教授领导的小组合作。南加州大学的研究小组将合成新的AB和ABA嵌段共聚物，用于共聚物的溶液和凝胶性能的物理化学和力学研究。这个小组项目的总体目标是确定嵌段共聚物和加工条件，这些条件有可能用于制造新一代高性能膜，用于化学加工、生物技术、生物医学应用和污染控制技术。

This project involves the study of the physical properties of new diblock and triblock copolymers in dilute and semi-dilute solutions and their processing into polymeric membranes. Emphasis will be on blocks of high incompatibility. Physical properties relevant to the process of membrane formation will be focussed on: 1) Determination of the interaction parameters between the segments of different blocks in solution; 2) Physical behavior (conformation and swelling) of diblock and triblock copolymers in "selective" solvents; 3) Swelling and mechanical properties of block copolymer gels. Membranes will be obtained by quenching copolymer solution films; their structure and properties will be examined as a function of initial polymer concentration, relative size of the blocks, and quench temperature. Low angle total intensity light scattering, viscometry, dynamic light scattering, mechanical measurements, and electron microscopy will be used to characterize the membranes. This project is being funded simultaneously with a project at the University of Southern California (USC) where a group directed by Professor Thieo E. Hogen-Esch will collaborate with the group at Cornell directed by Professor Cohen. The group at USC will perform the synthesis of new AB and ABA block copolymers to be used in the physicochemical and mechanical studies on solution and gel properties of the copolymers. The overall goal of this group project is to identify block copolymers and processing conditions with the potential for use in the manufacturing of a new generation of high performance membranes for chemical processing, biotechnology, biomedical applications, and pollution control technology.