Theory of Reacting Polymer Systems

9816374 O 'Shaughnessy将对自由基聚合反应动力学和聚合物界面的化学吸附进行理论研究。 这个更新的建议的目的是双重的：扩展早期的工作自由基聚合的稳态模型的非稳态动力学，并研究化学吸附的多官能化的聚合物链到功能化的固体表面从稀溶液和熔体。 自由基聚合的反应动力学由自由基形成和自由基终止过程之间的竞争驱动，而自由基形成和自由基终止过程又由产物聚合物链的静态和动态驱动。 拟议的研究将与由NSF化学部支持的哥伦比亚的跨学科实验自由基聚合以及SUNY斯托尼布鲁克MRSEC进行的聚合物化学吸附计划相协调。反应性聚合物系统具有重要的技术重要性，是化学、微电子、汽车和航空航天工业中聚合物合成和加工的许多应用的中心。 它们在生物学中也发挥着重要作用，因为生物体中的许多化学过程都涉及到复杂大分子中的活性物质。 本研究的目的是提高我们对自由基聚合和界面化学吸附两个领域的聚合物反应动力学的理解和预测能力。 这种对化学反应速率的更好理解应该增强我们通过改进合成和加工技术来定制聚合物性能的能力。

9816374O'ShaughnessyTheoretical research will be conducted on the reaction dynamics of free radical polymerization and chemisorption at polymer interfaces. The object of this renewal proposal is twofold: extend earlier work on steady-state models of free-radical polymerization to non-steady state dynamics, and study chemisorption of multifunctionalized polymer chains onto functionalized solid surfaces from dilute solutions and from melts. The reaction dynamics of free radical polymerization is driven by the competition between radical formation and radical termination processes, which are in turn driven by the statics and dynamics of the product polymer chains. The proposed research will be coordinated with an interdisciplinary experimental free-radical polymerization at Columbia supported by the NSF Chemistry Division, and with a program in polymer chemisorption conducted at the SUNY Stony Brook MRSEC.%%%Reacting polymer systems are of great technological importance, being central to many applications of polymer synthesis and processing in the chemical, microelectronics, automotive, and aerospace industries. They also play a major role in biology, because many chemical processes in living organisms involve reactive species incorporated into complex macromolecules. The object of this research is to advance our understanding and ability to predict the reaction kinetics of polymers in the two areas of free-radical polymerization and interfacial chemisorption. This improved understanding of chemical reaction rates should enhance our ability to tailor polymer properties by improved synthesis and processing techniques.***