Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Least Squares Closure Approximation For Liquid Crystalline Polymers, Traci Ann Sievenpiper

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

An introduction to existing closure schemes for the Doi-Hess kinetic theory of liquid crystalline polymers is provided. A new closure scheme is devised based on a least squares fit of a linear combination of the Doi, Tsuji-Rey, Hinch-Leal I, and Hinch-Leal II closure schemes. The orientation tensor and rate-of-strain tensor are fit separately using data generated from the kinetic solution of the Smoluchowski equation. The known behavior of the kinetic solution and existing closure schemes at equilibrium is compared with that of the new closure scheme. The performance of the proposed closure scheme in simple shear flow for a variety …

The Effects Of Low Doses (1 To 500 Kilograys) Of 100-Kev Electrons On Four Polymers, Cynthia Anne Bradbury

Physics Theses & Dissertations

Commercial films of polyetherimide (PEI), polyetheretherimide (PEEI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polycarbonate (PC) were exposed in vacuum to l 00-keV electron radiation to total absorbed doses of l, l 0, l 00, 300, and 500 kilograys. The concentration of radiation-generated radicals, as measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), increased by over an order of magnitude in all four polymers. Correspondingly, the intensity of the infrared absorption peaks increased uniformly for all doses. Solubility tests resulted in decreased solubility in all polymers. IR, EPR, and solubility suggest dehydrogenation of the aliphatic C-H and phenyl C-H sites. The data indicated that cross …

Gas Permeation Measurements On Small Polymer Specimens, Karen S. Burns

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Mass spectrometry was used to measure oxygen and nitrogen permeabilities while polarography was used to measure oxygen permeabilities for several contact lens materials. Applicable sample holders were designed and fabricated to accommodate curved and flat specimens with surface areas of 0.5 cm² and 1.0 cm² and thicknesses between 0.025 mm and 0.500 mm. A prepared standard was used to calibrate the mass spectrometric analyses.

The oxygen permeability values determined by mass spectrometry were significantly greater than those determined by polarography. This was attributed to the phase boundary phenomena and the limiting oxygen permeance of water inherent in the …

The Synthesis Of New Maleimide Addition Polymer Precursors, Richard B. Brown

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

1H-2,3-dimethylpyrrolo(1,2-a) benzimidazol-l-one (27) and 1H,9H- 2,3,7,8-tetramethyl-bispyrrolo(1,2-a:6,7-a')benzodiimidazo1-1,9-dione (32) have been synthesized from dimethylmaleic anhydride and o-phenylenediamine and 1,2,4,5-tetraaminobenzene, respectively. The presence of reactive olefinic double bonds in the synthesized compounds was of interest as a site for possible addition polymerization.

The synthetic route involved, in both cases, a simple nucleophilic substitution reaction between the diamine(or tetraamine) and the anhydride to form an intermediate amide-acid-amine which rapidly cyclized to the imide amine. The final ring closure required more rigorous conditions and occurred at melt reaction temperatures.