| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/N36721/01 |
| Title: |
PHASE BEHAVIOUR OF BINARY BLOCK COPOLYMER/HOMOPOLYMER BLENDS: THEORY AND EXPERIMENT |
| Principal Investigator: |
Matsen, Professor MW |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
University of Reading |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 April 2001 |
Ends: |
31 March 2005 |
Value (£): |
72,446
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Chemicals |
| No relevance to Underpinning Sectors |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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Abstract:Block copolymers are well known for applications such as blend compatiblisers, thermoplastic elastomers, and surface modifiers, and various new applications are emerging such as nanoscale templates, porous materials and membranes, and thermoplastic liquid-crystalline elastomers. Furthermore, synthesis techniques are becoming more economical allowing the wider use of block copolymers for the superior material properties resulting from their internal microstructure. Such materials will be best controlled by blending. Our proposed research will conduct a combined theoretical and experimental study on the phase behaviour of model block copolymer blends, specifically, AB-type diblocks with A-type homopolymer. A dedicated small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) facility will permit the measurement of accurate equilibrium phase diagrams, while high-performance computer facilities will allow for a complete mapping of the experimentally relevant intermediate segregation regime. This study will examine general principles relevant to all block copolymer blends (e.g. packing frustration, competition between translational entropy of the homopolymer and stretching energy of the copolymer layers). Some of these issues are also highly relevant to the general field of complex liquids, in particular lyotropic liquid crystals. Our study will also provide an important test of block copolymer theory.
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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 |