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Polymer and Organic Materials

Doctoral Dissertations

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Crystallization

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Full-Text Articles in Materials Science and Engineering

The Role Of Chain Configuration In Governing The Rational Design Of Polymers For Adhesion, Onyenkachi Wamuo Nov 2017

The Role Of Chain Configuration In Governing The Rational Design Of Polymers For Adhesion, Onyenkachi Wamuo

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT THE ROLE OF CHAIN CONFIGURATION IN GOVERNING THE RATIONAL DESIGN OF POLYMERS FOR ADHESION SEPTEMBER 2017 ONYENKACHI C. WAMUO, B.Eng., FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OWERRI (FUTO), NIGERIA M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Shaw Ling Hsu The chain configurational control of polymers used in adhesion can be utilized as a means of tuning the cohesive properties of hot melt adhesives (HMAs). The cohesive properties control the solidification, strength, setting speed. Propylene-Ethylene copolymers (PP-co-PE) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) were studied. In the first project, the effects of sequence distribution of the two types …


Solution, Interfacial, And Interlayer Studies Of Electronically Active Polymers, Hsin-Wei Wang Mar 2016

Solution, Interfacial, And Interlayer Studies Of Electronically Active Polymers, Hsin-Wei Wang

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis describes the solution behavior and interfacial properties of electronically active polymers. The performance of such polymers in devices is often determined by their chain conformation and morphology in solution and in thin films. For example, the intricate balance between polymer domain size and crystalline packing of electron donor and acceptor components, as well as the properties at the polymer-metal interface, are crucial for achieving optimal performance in devices, such as solar cells. Chapter 1 presents the current progress in polymer-based solar cells, their fundamental principles, and key factors to improve their efficiency. Literature precedents on the development of …


Process-Structure-Property Relationship In Ultra High Molecular Weight Polytetrafluoroethylene And Double Network Epoxies, Ranadip Ganguly Nov 2015

Process-Structure-Property Relationship In Ultra High Molecular Weight Polytetrafluoroethylene And Double Network Epoxies, Ranadip Ganguly

Doctoral Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is to develop a fundamental understanding of process-structure-property relationship in two different classes of polymers: semi-crystalline Ultra High Molecular Weight Polytetrafluoroethylene (UHMWPTFE) and amorphous glassy double network (DN) epoxies. Conventional melt processing techniques such as extrusion and injection molding cannot be applied to UHMWPTFE due to its very high melt viscosity (1010-1011 poise). Therefore, UHMWPTFE is industrially processed by a modified metallurgy technology-sintering. However, the fundamental mechanism for UHMWPTFE sintering is unknown. Further, this process is highly time consuming, cost inefficient and hinders the recyclability of the material. The first part of …


On The Morphology Of Polymer-Based Solar Cells To Achieve Higher Device Performance, Yu Gu Nov 2014

On The Morphology Of Polymer-Based Solar Cells To Achieve Higher Device Performance, Yu Gu

Doctoral Dissertations

It has been recognized that the morphology of the active layer of the polymer-based solar cells has a great influence on the device performance. To push the efficiency to a higher level, morphology design and control by varying processing conditions are crucial. The theme of this dissertation is to characterize and understanding of the morphology of the active layer of polymer-based solar cells and the role that the morphology plays on device performance, so as to develop routes by which the morphology can be optimized. The focus of this dissertation is first on a binary system consisting of poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b’]-dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT) …