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Full-Text Articles in Chemical Engineering

Ordered Network Phases In Linear Poly(Isoprene-B-Styrene-B-Ethylene Oxide) Triblock Copolymers, Thomas H. Epps Iii, Eric W. Cochran, Travis S. Bailey, Ryan S. Waletzko, Cordell M. Hardy, Frank S. Bates Oct 2004

Ordered Network Phases In Linear Poly(Isoprene-B-Styrene-B-Ethylene Oxide) Triblock Copolymers, Thomas H. Epps Iii, Eric W. Cochran, Travis S. Bailey, Ryan S. Waletzko, Cordell M. Hardy, Frank S. Bates

Eric W. Cochran

The equilibrium phase behavior of 43 linear poly(isoprene-b-styrene-b- ethylene oxide) (ISO) triblock copolymer melts, with molecular weights that place these materials near the order-disorder transition, is reported. Ordered phase morphologies were characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, and static birefringence measurements. Interpretation of these results was aided by a modeling technique that facilitates resolution of reciprocal and real-space experimental data, leading to definitive three-dimensional morphological structures. Three distinct multiply continuous network morphologies are identified across a range of compositions between 0.1 ≤ f o ≤ 0.3, situated between two-domain and three-domain lamellae, where f o …


Network Phases In Abc Triblock Copolymers, Thomas H. Epps Iii, Eric W. Cochran, Cordell M. Hardy, Travis S. Bailey, Ryan S. Waletzko, Frank S. Bates Aug 2004

Network Phases In Abc Triblock Copolymers, Thomas H. Epps Iii, Eric W. Cochran, Cordell M. Hardy, Travis S. Bailey, Ryan S. Waletzko, Frank S. Bates

Eric W. Cochran

Many naturally occurring and engineered products are influenced by network structures. Collagen networks provide a scaffold for living tissue, while swollen arrays of physically cross-linked polypeptides constitute gelatin, the familiar dessert and electrophoresis medium. Although the associated mesh sizes differ by several orders of magnitude, these examples share a common feature: three-dimensional connectivity that imparts mechanical rigidity. Intercalating additional interconnected components can yield broader functions, e.g., ionic or electrical conductivity, optical band gaps, and tailored heat and mass transfer.


Shear-Induced Network-To-Network Transition In A Block Copolymer Melt, Eric W. Cochran, Frank S. Bates Aug 2004

Shear-Induced Network-To-Network Transition In A Block Copolymer Melt, Eric W. Cochran, Frank S. Bates

Eric W. Cochran

The tricontinuous (10, 3)c shear-induced network-to-network transition in a block copolymer melt was analyzed using small-angle x-ray scattering. Investigations show that field-induced network-to-network phase transition was unprecedented in soft condensed matter. It was found that shear transforms were used for self-assembling the soft material into a single crystal (10, 3)d network. The results show the delicate nature of block copolymers phase behavior, where candidate morphologies were spaced closely together on the free energy surface.


Consequences Of Block Number On The Order-Disorder Transition And Viscoelastic Properties Of Linear (Ab)N Multiblock Copolymers, Lifeng Wu, Eric W. Cochran, Timothy P. Lodge, Frank S. Bates Apr 2004

Consequences Of Block Number On The Order-Disorder Transition And Viscoelastic Properties Of Linear (Ab)N Multiblock Copolymers, Lifeng Wu, Eric W. Cochran, Timothy P. Lodge, Frank S. Bates

Eric W. Cochran

The effect of block number on the order-disorder transition (ODT) and viscoelastic properties were studied for linear (AB) n multiblock copolymers. A series of symmetric poly(styrene-b-isoprene) n multiblocks ((SI) n, n = 1-10) were synthesized by anionic polymerization, and their order-disorder transition temperatures (T ODT) were located using dynamic mechanical spectroscopy. As n increases, T ODT approaches an asymptotic value, consistent with random phase approximation calculations. A systematic difference between the experimental and theoretical results is attributable to the effects of fluctuations, independent of the number of blocks. Addition of up to 20 vol % of a nonselective solvent depresses …