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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Nanocomposite Polymer Networks For Reconfigurable Materials, Adam W. Hauser Nov 2017

Nanocomposite Polymer Networks For Reconfigurable Materials, Adam W. Hauser

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis broadly aims to design reconfigurable materials through complementary combinations of nanoparticles and polymers. Understanding nanoparticle dispersion pathways and mechanisms is a critical first step in any polymer nanocomposite work as it continues to be a non-trivial subject. To this end, Chapter 2 describes a simple method to control nanoparticle dispersion within polymer melts by photografting random copolymers to selectively reactive nanoparticle ligands. The chapters following focus on harnessing the functionality of well dispersed nanocomposite networks to elicit macro-scale responses. Chapter 3 exploits the unique optical properties of gold nanoparticles in combination with thermally responsive hydrogels and liquid crystalline …


Effects Of Sulfidation On The Deposition And Detachment Of Silver Nanoparticles, Joseph Murphy Jan 2017

Effects Of Sulfidation On The Deposition And Detachment Of Silver Nanoparticles, Joseph Murphy

Environmental & Water Resources Engineering Masters Projects

The transformation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) due to environmental factors can play a role in their fate and transport in aquatic systems. Sulfidation has the potential to alter these particles’ physio-chemical properties and their subsequent mobilization in aquatic environments. The water chemistry (e.g. pH, dissolved organic carbon) of these systems can also change the behavior of AgNPs. To better understand the effects of sulfidation on the characteristics and deposition of AgNPs, techniques such as quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used. In this study, AgNPs with two different ligand types, Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-capped AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) and Polyethylene …