| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M18034/01 |
| Title: |
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO CREATE EFFECTIVE PLASTIC ALLOYS FROM IMMISCIBLE POLYMERS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Matsen, Professor MW |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
University of Reading |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
26 October 1998 |
Ends: |
25 October 2000 |
Value (£): |
51,504
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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A blend of immiscible polymers will rapidly separate into microscopic domains and with time these domains will grow to macroscopic sizes. To make useful polymer alloys, it is essential to prevent this macrophase separation. With this intent in mind, I propose to study the interface between two immiscible polymers in the presence of an added block copolymer using self-consistent field theory (SCFT). Issues relating to polymer compatiblisation will be addressed. It is possible to make useful and long lasting plastic alloys from immiscible polymers by sufficiently retarding the kinetics of phase separation. To accomplish this, the block copolymer should produce ultra-low interfacial tension and repulsive interactions between the internal interfaces of the blend. Furthermore, micelle formation needs to be prevented, which could be accomplished by keeping the spontaneous interfacial curvature small. Rather than just increasing the metastablilty of the blend, it is far more desirable to create a stable microemulsion. Polymeric microemulsions have just recently been observed, but only at very high copolymer conceentrations. By examining the quantities important in a microemulsion, such as interfacial tension and interfacial bending moduli, I intend to predict conditions for stable microemulsions at low copolymer concentrations.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.rdg.ac.uk |