Polymer Chemistry Commons^™

Production And Characterization Of Cut Resistant Acrylic/Copolyaramid Fibers Via Bicomponent Wet Spinning, Stephen Hipp

All Dissertations

A composite fiber system consisting of a sheath core bicomponent polymer fiber loaded with hard ceramic particles was developed and characterized for use in cut protective clothing. The core component was comprised of a copolyaramid in order to provide high base cut resistance. An acrylic-copolyaramid polymer blend was used for the sheath component to improve processability and provide potential benefits such as dyeability. Lastly, aluminum oxide particles were incorporated into the fiber core to deflect and deform the cutting edge, further improving cut resistance. A series of designed experiments was used to explore the effects of the wet spinning and …

Hybrid Aryl-Ether-Ketone And Hyperbranched Epoxy Networks, John Misasi

Dissertations

In this dissertation, relationships between chemical structures, cure kinetics and network architectures are correlated to bulk mechanical properties for novel, hybrid epoxy-amine networks. The work is split into two primary sections: the first is the synthesis and characterization of multifunctional glassy networks based on aryl-ether-ketone diamine curatives, while the second is based on the synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched epoxy polymers and their resulting networks.

Three aryl-ether-ketone (AEK) diamines of increasing molecular weights were synthesized and used to cure 4,4’-tetraglycidylether of diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM); the resulting networks were compared to 4,4’-diaminodiphenyl sulfone cured TGDDM. Architectural differences were created by varying cure …

Hydrogen Bond-Mediated Structural Order In Hydroxylated Bis-Mpa Dendritic Polymers: Experimental And Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study, Maliha N. Syed

Dissertations

Dendritic architectures are echoed throughout nature. While the significance of these pervasive patterns is not entirely clear, connections between their structures and physical properties are fascinating to contemplate. Particular interest has been paid to a family of synthetically manufactured and commercially available dendritic polymers based on 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid (bis-MPA) as a monomer. Composed of two hydroxyls and a carboxyl group, bis-MPA based structures hydrogen bond (H-bond) profusely. Given the high concentration and unique spatial orientation of end-groups, as well as the multitude of carbonyl, ester, and ether interior H-bond acceptors, a set of distinct H-bond organizations may be observed …

Photothermally Induced Optical Property Changes Of Poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel-Based Etalons, Molla R. Islam, Jessica Irvine, Michael J. Serpe

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) microgel-based optical devices were designed such that they can be stimulated to change their optical properties in response to light produced by a light-emitting diode (LED). The devices were fabricated by sandwiching the synthesized microgels between two Cr/Au layers all supported on a glass coverslip with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited. Here, we found that these devices can be stimulated to change their optical properties when exposed to green LED light, which excites the AuNPs and increases the local temperature, causing the thermoresponsive microgels to decrease in diameter, resulting in a change in the devices’ optical properties. We also found …

Determination Of The Polymerisation Rate Of A Low-Toxicity Diacetone Acrylamide-Based Holographic Photopolymer Using Raman Spectroscopy, Dervil Cody, Emilia Mihaylova, Luke O'Neill, Izabela Naydenova

Articles

The polymerisation rate of a low-toxicity Diacetone Acrylamide (DA)-based photopolymer has been measured for the first time using Raman spectroscopy. A value for the polymerisation rate of 0.020 s⁻¹ has been obtained for the DA photopolymer by modelling the polymerisation reaction dynamics as a stretched exponential or Kohlrausch decay function. This is significantly lower than the polymerisation rate of 0.100 s⁻¹ measured for the well known Acrylamide (AA)-based photopolymer composition. The effect of the additive glycerol on the polymerisation rate of the DA-based photopolymer has also been investigated. The inclusion of glycerol is observed to increase the rate …

Polymer Pen Printing: A Tool For Studying 2d Enzymatic Lithography And Printing 3d Carbon Features, Zhantong Mao

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Polymer Pen Lithography (PPL) is a promising molecular printing approach which combines the advantages of both microcontact printing (low cost, high-throughput) and the dip pen lithography (DPN) (arbitrary writing, high-resolution) into one cohesive lithography method to create 2 dimensional (2-D) patterns with micro/nano-features on different substrates. The goal of this dissertation is to design and develop a new tool based upon PPL, which is not limited to forming 2D parallel patterns, but can also create 3D complex microstructures, finding applications in both biotechnology and Micro-Electro-Mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. This novel approach is named Polymer Pen Printing. Different from PPL using …

Large-Pore Mesoporous Organosilicas And Related Polymer Nanocomposites, Amanpreet Singh Manchanda

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The research work in this dissertation covers the synthesis of mesoporous organosilicas and (organo)silica/polymer nanocomposites. The content can be divided into 4 parts (8 chapters).

The first part of the dissertation is the introduction, which covers the background and progress in the field of mesoporous silicas, periodic mesoporous organosilicas and related inorganic/polymer nanocomposites. The second part of the dissertation (Chapter 2-5) involves the synthesis of mesoporous organosilicas from different organosilane precursors at mild acid concentration (0.1 M HCl) and low temperature (0 or 7 ℃) using Pluronic F127 (EO₁₀₆PO₇₀EO₁₀₆) as a surfactant template. Chapter …

Revision-Polyurethane-Graphene Nanocomposites For Corrosion-Resistant Coatings, Alexandra Rose Stevenson

Master's Theses

Corrosion is a prevalent concern throughout the world, causing significant monetary and safety concerns. Research has been dedicated to developing cost-effective solutions for corrosion that will also meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations. The recently discovered nanomaterial graphene has been proposed as a potential component in anticorrosion technology due to its strong air and water barrier properties. However, graphene is a relatively expensive, difficult to synthesize material. By incorporating it into nanocomposites, its properties can be exploited even at low concentrations. Previous work has been conducted involving the preparation of anticorrosive polystyrene-graphene nanocomposites; these materials were found to be effective long-term …

Rational Design Of Materials For The Protection Of Outdoor Metalworks, Natasja Alexandria Swartz

Dissertations and Theses

Protective coatings are commonly used to protect culturally significant works, such as outdoor sculptures and architectural elements. Given the valuable nature of such metalworks, there is a surprising lack of environmentally sustainable coatings available for their conservation. High performance clear coatings are not developed or thoroughly tested for compatibility and longevity on outdoor sculptures. This can make the implementation of both methods and materials, no matter how promising in a lab, a significant hurdle for the conservation science community. This dissertation work initially aims to replace high-VOC formulations such as acrylic lacquers and waxes currently used as protective coatings for …

Analysis Of The Fabrication Conditions In Organic Field-Effect Transistors, Rachel M. Rahn, Yan Zhao, Jianguo Mei

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Polymer-based organic field-effect transistors have raised substantial awareness because they enable low-cost, solution processing techniques, and have the potential to be implemented in flexible, disposable organic electronic devices. The performance of these devices is highly dependent on the processing conditions, as well as the intrinsic properties of the polymer. Processing conditions play an important role in semiconductor film formation and device performance. These factors may provide an important link between structure and performance. In this study, an empirical analysis tool, Process Scout, was applied to assess processing factors such as polymer concentration and silicon modification. This sanctioned the creation of …

Development Of A Scalable Synthesis Of Hp-Β-Cd Pluronic Polyrotaxanes, Joseph L. Skulsky, Elizabeth A. Slepko, Bradley P. Loren, David H. Thompson

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Polyrotaxanes are polymers that have macrocycles threaded onto them, analogous to beads threaded onto a string. These materials are used for a variety of different biomedical applications.^1-3 The Thompson group has been developing 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) polyrotaxanes as therapeutics for the treatment of Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease. NPC is a debilitating genetic disorder where cholesterol accumulates in the lysosomes of cells.⁴ Developing a scalable process is crucial for the advancement of these materials as NPC therapeutics. The goal of this project is to optimize the only protocol for the synthesis of HP-β-CD/Pluronic polyrotaxanes in order to develop a …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Thermoelectric Properties Of Radical Siloxanes, Arnold J. Eng, Bryan Boudouris, Edward P. Tomlinson, Martha Emily Hay

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

More than half of the annual energy consumption in the United States is lost as waste heat. Polymer-based thermoelectric devices have the potential to utilize this waste heat both sustainably and cost-effectively. Although conjugated polymers currently dominate research in organic thermoelectrics, the potential of using polymers with radical pendant groups have yet to be realized. These polymers have been found to be as conductive as pristine (i.e., not doped) poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), a commonly-used charge-transporting conjugated polymer. This could yield promising avenues for thermoelectric material design as radical polymers are more synthetically tunable and are hypothesized to have a high Seebeck …

Forensic Significance Of Teal Colored Cashmere And Black Acrylic Fibers, Nicole M. Martin

Forensic Science Theses

Textile fibers are a valuable type of trace evidence within forensic cases. They have the ability to connect a perpetrator to a victim and or a crime scene. Some types of fibers are more prevalent than others. The purpose of this research was to conduct a target fiber study in order to determine the significance of the selected fibers in a forensic case. Two fibers were selected from two different garments, black acrylic fiber and a teal colored cashmere fiber. Unknown fibers were collected from three local clothing stores and counted. Using light microscopy, all 20,164 fibers were eliminated as …

Composition Effects On Sheen And Spread Rate Of An Interior Flat, One Coat Latex Paint Formulation, Dana James Christensen Ii

Master's Theses

Interior flat, white latex paint is a common coating applied to walls around the world. Development of a coating with one coat hide capability is a pinnacle achievement for paint formulators as it has the potential to save consumers both time and money. One coat paints already exist on the market, but they are limited in color, coverage, and often have many disclaimers. Work done was part of a project initiated by ChemoursTM Titanium Technologies.

The goal of the project presented in this article was to create an interior flat, white latex paint that yields a spread rate of greater …

Morphology-Property Relationship For Binary Organic Thin Films, Alyssa Lynn Griffin

Master's Theses

Organic thin films can be readily mass-produced through solution-based fabrication methods including ink-printing and solution-casting because their light weight, flexibility, and inexpensive sources. Their applications range from organic field-effect transistors (OFET), organic solar cells (OSC), to organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs). Compared with pure component films, binary organic thin films (BOTF) allows for novel characteristics and specialized features to handle more demanding tasks. Due to the complex intermolecular interactions in BOTF, various microscopic phases with different morphological and electronic properties may be formed and this information is difficult to extract through conventional bulk measurements.

Organic thin films can be readily …

Frustrated Abc Triblock Terpolymers Morphologies, Madalyn Radlauer, Yusuke Asai, Christophe Sinturel, Marc Hillmyer

Faculty Publications, Chemistry

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Surfactant Architecture On Conformational Transitions Of Conjugated Polyelectrolytes, Greg A. Braggin

Master's Theses

Water soluble conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs), which fall under the category of conductive polymers, possess numerous advantages over other conductive materials for the fabrication of electronic devices. Namely, the processing of water soluble conjugated polyelectrolytes into thin film electronic devices is much less costly as compared to the processing of inorganic materials. Moreover, the handling of conjugated polyelectrolytes can be performed in a much more environmentally friendly manner than in the processing of other conjugated polymers because conjugated polyelectrolytes are water soluble, whereas other polymers will only dissolve in toxic organic solvents. The processing of electronic devices containing inorganic constituents such …

Tempo-Containing Romp Polymers As A Component For Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injuries, Cameron H. Feriante

Honors College Theses

During a traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in combination with hemorrhagic shock the brain undergoes anoxic conditions resulting from swelling and blood loss. Traditional intravenous solutions are used to replace blood volume, but are unable to replace the blood’s oxygen carrying capacity. A proposed treatment based on isotonic solutions containing hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC’s) which were intended to provide readily available oxygen was developed. However, cell-free hemoglobin was shown to have excessive oxidative potential. Polynitroxylated Pegylated Hemoglobin (PNPH) was developed to address this shortcoming. During PNPH synthesis a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxidanyl (TEMPO), is bound to the …

Study Of Mechanical Properties Of Pva Fiber-Reinforced Concrete With Raman Spectroscopic Analysis, Ramyasree Annam

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The brittleness of concrete has always been a safety and economic issue of great concern. The low tensile strength of concrete is the cause of its intrinsic brittle nature. This is critical considering the amount of concrete used for the construction of highways, buildings, and other facilities. The mechanical properties of concrete must be improved to provide upgraded construction. Crack resistant and durable concrete has always been a major goal for engineers. Many approaches have been tried to make concrete a better construction material. Fiber reinforcement is an approach which has been shown to improve the quality and durability of …

Green Chemistry As A Tool For Understanding The Toxic Substances Control Act: A Lecture Module For Undergraduate Students, Molly R. Blessing

Honors Scholar Theses

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is the central form of chemical regulation existent in the United States today, yet scientists are often unaware or uncertain of its provisions. Violations of TSCA by unknowing chemists set industry and government unnecessarily at odds. A lecture on TSCA was developed for undergraduate students that uses the concept of green chemistry to promote interest and incentivize learning. Green chemistry methods are cleaner and less wasteful than traditional chemical ones, and many companies using them are at the forefront of technological innovation. The lecture explains both green chemistry and TSCA, includes company case studies, …