CAREER: Shear Response of Polymers Grafted to Membranes

科罗拉多州伊迪斯塞维克大学的CTS-9501946职业发展计划涉及三个领域的研究：作为微阀的聚合物刷子、使用聚电解质链的微平版印刷阵列进行电泳分离，以及表面活性物质在模型粘土悬浮液上的吸附。研究的重点将是一种新型微阀系统的设计、建模和建造，该系统由端接在直径几纳米的孔上的聚合物链组成。微阀为膜提供独特的流量控制，没有机械部件或反馈控制回路。了解被吸附的聚合物刷在不同几何形状下如何感知和响应流动，可能会导致具有流动相关特性的独特膜。潜在的应用包括过滤和受控药物释放。该教育计划包括开发一门统计力学研究生课程，并将计算机模拟和过程模拟器引入本科课程。

CTS-9501946 Edith Sevick University of Colorado The career development plan involves three areas of research: polymer brushes as microvalves, electrophoretic separations using microlithographic arrays of polyelectrolyte chains, and adsorption of surfactants onto a model clay suspension. The focus of the research will be on the design, modeling and construction of a novel microvalve system, consisting of polymer chains end-grafted onto pores several nanometers in diameter. The microvalves impart unique flow control to the membrane without mechanical parts or feedback control loops. Understanding how the adsorbed polymer brushes sense and respond to flow under different geometry's may lead to unique membranes with flow-dependent properties. Potential applications include filtration and controlled drug release. The educational plan involves the development of a graduate course in statistical mechanics, and the introduction of computer simulation and process simulators to the undergraduate curriculum.