Molecular Origins of Adhesion in Soft Polymers

9975468Shull该基金支持“软”聚合物中粘附起源的研究，包括弹性体，未交联的聚合物熔体，以及最终的生物系统。 这些材料用于各种应用中，并且非常需要对其分子结构与其所得粘合剂性质之间的关系的基本理解。 将使用基于丙烯酸嵌段共聚物的模型系统来建立这种联系。 这些自组装系统具有可调的结构特征，这使得它们的整体机械和流变性能能够被仔细控制。 模型聚合物基板将被用于以探测影响这些模型系统的粘附到不同表面的因素。 该项目包括模型丙烯酸聚合物的合成，以及利用西北大学首席研究员开发的技术测量其机械和粘合性能。 实验结果将与断裂力学分析相结合，以开发适用于软材料粘附的通用模型。预计这项工作将产生各种科学和教育成果。 基本的科学目标是开发一种可用于合成改进粘合剂的设计策略。 虽然研究将集中在丙烯酸材料的使用上（作为压敏粘合剂在商业上很重要），但这些想法可以应用于各种粘合剂配方，包括用于伤口修复的生物粘合剂材料。 该研究将主要由博士进行。学生，与本科生的重大参与，以及。 与研究相关问题的法国科学家继续合作也将在这项工作中发挥作用。

9975468ShullThis grant supports work on the origins of adhesion in 'soft' polymers, including elastomers, uncrosslinked polymer melts, and ultimately, biological systems. These materials are used in a variety of applications, and a fundamental understanding of the relationship between their molecular structure and their resulting adhesive properties is highly desirable. Model systems based on acrylic block copolymers will be used in order to make this connection. These self-assembling systems have tunable structural features which enable their bulk mechanical and rheological properties to be carefully controlled. Model polymeric substrates will be used in order to probe the factors which affect adhesion of these model systems to different surfaces. The project includes synthesis of the model acrylic polymers, in addition to measurements of their mechanical and adhesive properties, utilizing techniques developed by the principal investigator at Northwestern University. Experimental results will be coupled with a fracture mechanics analysis in order to develop general models applicable to the adhesion of soft materials.A variety of scientific and educational outcomes are expected as a result of this work. The fundamental scientific goal is to develop a design strategy which can be used for the synthesis of improved adhesives. While the research will center on the use of acrylic materials (which are commercially important as pressure sensitive adhesives), these ideas can be applied to a variety of adhesive formulations, including bioadhesive materials used for wound repair. The research will be conducted primarily by Ph.D. students, with significant involvement by undergraduate students as well. A continued collaboration with French scientists working on related problems will also play a role in this work.