Towards the predictive design of PAEK-based polymers - from fundamental polymer physics to advanced materials applications

该项目致力于开发控制聚合物玻璃形成和结晶的预测框架，特别关注聚芳醚酮(PAEK)系列高性能聚合物的高效设计。PAEK聚合物应用广泛，包括智能手机扬声器、电气绝缘、汽车齿轮、医疗植入物和飞机部件。许多PAEK聚合物应用的高温性能要求通常需要较高的玻璃化转变温度(Tg)，而目前则需要较高的熔点(Tm)和加工温度。然而，我们目前对聚合物中的玻璃形成或结晶还没有足够的基本了解，无法根据聚合物合成过程中选择的结构分子特征来预测玻璃化转变温度或玻璃化转变温度。因此，本项目的目标是确定控制TG和TM平衡的方法。我们将使用一系列实验技术，包括量热法、介电弛豫谱、高级流变学、散射(光、X射线、中子)和显微镜(光、电子)，研究具有系统不同分子组成单元的PAEK聚合物的物理性能，包括结构、动力学和力学。研究结果将根据目前最先进的聚合物玻璃化转变和结晶知识进行解释和分析。

This project is focused on developing a predictive framework to control glass-formation and crystallization in polymers, with a particular focus on the efficient design of high performance polymers within the Poly Aryl Ether Ketone (PAEK) family. PAEK polymers are used in a broad range of applications including smart-phone speakers, electrical insulation, automotive gears, medical implants and aircraft components. The high temperature performance requirements of many PAEK polymer applications typically demand high glass transition temperatures (Tg), which in turn currently requires high melting points (Tm) and processing temperatures. However, we presently do not have sufficient fundamental understanding of glass-formation or crystallization in polymers to predict Tg or Tm from the structural molecular characteristics, as chosen during polymer synthesis. The goal in this project is thus to identify methods to control the balance of Tg and Tm. The physical properties including structure, dynamics and mechanics of PAEK polymers with systematically varied molecular building blocks will be investigated using a wide range of experimental techniques including calorimetry, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, advanced rheology, scattering (light, x-rays, neutrons) and microscopy (light, electron). The results will be interpreted and analyzed in light of the current state-of-the-art knowledge of the glass transition and crystallization in polymers