Investigation on Interfacial Interactions in Polymer Blends and Composites by Complimentary ATR-FTIR-AFM Imaging System

题为“利用免费的ATR-FTIR-AFM成像系统研究聚合物共混物和复合材料中的界面相互作用”的拨款申请正在申请资金，以获得衰减全反射-傅里叶变换红外(ATR-FTIR)成像系统-Alpha FT-IR光谱仪。该计划的目标是提供一种独特的方法，利用建议的ATR-FTIR和智能与自适应聚合物实验室现有的原子力显微镜(AFM)进行分析，阐明聚合物共混物和聚合物复合材料中聚合物-聚合物、聚合物-填料和填料-填料的相互作用。原子力显微镜是一种非常强大和有用的技术，可以用来表征非均质材料体系的形态、拓扑和各种多功能性质。然而，基于AFM的成像仍然存在一个根本的挑战，因为结论是基于形态或地形特征来推断的。传统上，使用原子力显微镜来确认特定的分子构象是非常困难的，特别是在聚合物-聚合物、聚合物-填料和填料-填料相互作用的情况下。在此背景下，由AFM和ATR-FTIR组成的研究平台将提供AFM分辨的结构和地形特征与上述材料相互作用中分子结构和构象的光谱细节之间的直接关联。对这些相互作用的了解对于开发具有量身定制的机械、电和热性能的新型多功能材料至关重要，这些材料的应用范围从日常商品(例如电子包装和一次性餐具)到高级工程应用(例如具有三维结构和生物支架的未来芯片的热管理)。最终，该系统将成为开发新型多功能和活性聚合物共混物、复合材料和特种泡沫的实验设施的核心。它还将为新材料及其制造的研究做出贡献，最终促进加拿大各部门的技术发展和经济。

The grant application entitled, "Investigation on Interfacial Interactions in Polymer Blends and Composites by Complimentary ATR-FTIR-AFM Imaging System" is requesting fund to obtain an attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) imaging system - ALPHA FT-IR Spectrometer. The goal of this program is to provide a unique means to elucidate polymer-polymer, polymer-filler, and filler-filler interactions in polymer blends and polymer composites using complimentary analyses by the proposed ATR-FTIR and an existing atomic force microscope (AFM) in the Smart and Adaptive Polymer Lab. AFM is an exceedingly powerful and useful technique for characterizing the morphology, topology, and various multifunctional properties of heterogeneous material systems. However, there remains a fundamental challenge with AFM-based imaging because conclusions are inferred based on morphological or topographical features. It is conventionally very difficult to use AFM to confirm specific molecular conformation, especially in the case of polymer-polymer, polymer-filler, and filler-filler interactions. In this context, a research platform consists of both AFM and ATR-FTIR will provide direct correlations between structural and topographical features resolved by AFM with spectroscopic details of molecular structure and conformation in the aforementioned materials interactions. The understanding of these interactions is crucial in the development of novel multifunctional materials with tailored mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties for a wide spectrum of applications, ranging from daily commodities (e.g., electronic packaging and disposable cutlery) to advanced engineering applications (e.g., heat management for future chips with three-dimensional architectures and bioscaffold). Ultimately, the system will serve as the heart of experimental facilities to develop novel multifunctional and active polymer blends, composites, and specialty foams. It will also contribute to the research in novel materials and their fabrications, ultimately promoting the technology development and economy in various sectors in Canada.