DOI
10.17077/etd.1ki1ndf2
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Degree
Spring 2018
Degree Name
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
Degree In
Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
First Advisor
C. Allan Guymon
First Committee Member
Johna Leddy
Second Committee Member
Julie Jessop
Third Committee Member
David Rethwisch
Fourth Committee Member
David Cwiertny
Abstract
Modifying photopolymer structure on the molecular and nanoscale level permits tailoring materials for use in a wide variety of applications. Understanding the fundamentals behind polymer structure at these levels permits the control of material properties. This work gains insight into the modification of structure on two levels, the nanoscale by use of structure templates and the molecular scale through the modification of polymer network formation.
Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are a type of self-assembling surfactant system, which in combination with photopolymerization can be used to template ordered nanostructure within polymer materials. This structure can be controlled and utilized to influence the properties of a polymer material. This research examines materials used as templating agents and the types of nanostructures that may be obtained. Additionally, their effects upon the LLC templating process and material properties is determined. Structured polymers are created using LLC templates in pursuit of materials for use in water purification processes and electrochemical devices. Through a more complete understanding of the fundamentals of the templating process, the work presented here extends the LLC templating technique to a greater variety of materials and applications in the water remediation and energy storage fields.
The second portion of this research is the use of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) to modify photopolymer networks. RAFT agents are utilized to control the propagation reaction to create networks with increased homogeneity between network crosslinks. By increasing the uniformity of the polymer network, increases in polymer elongation and toughness as well as decreases in polymer modulus are observed. The effects of RAFT agent addition on the network formation and the final properties of the photopolymer is examined. By understanding the mechanisms behind this modification technique, photopolymers can be extended into new applications where increased elongation and toughness is valued.
Keywords
forward osmosis, liquid crystals, photopolymerization, reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer, stimuli-reponsive material, structure property relationship
Pages
xviii, 190 pages
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 180-190).
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 Jacob Ryan McLaughlin
Recommended Citation
McLaughlin, Jacob Ryan. "Control of swelling, electrochemical, and elongation properties of photopolymers through the modification of structure." PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) thesis, University of Iowa, 2018.
https://doi.org/10.17077/etd.1ki1ndf2
Comments
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