The lack of a widely-accepted quantitative methodology for evaluating the scratch behavior of polymeric materials has resulted in the development and establishment of a new methodology recently standardized as ASTM D7027-05. Using a custom-built instrumented scratch machine, it is possible to produce controlled, repeatable scratches on polymer surfaces under constant or linearly increasing loading conditions at constant or increasing scratch rates. Software-aided digital image analysis along with material science tools (SEM, OM, FTIR, etc.) allows polymer scratch behavior to be analyzed without the ambiguity inherent in the past. The current work will serve to describe the motivation for the development of this methodology as well as illustrate the effectiveness of the increasing load/constant rate test mode in three case studies. First, it will be shown that an acrylic coating on a steel system exhibits three zones of scratch damage: adhesive delamination, transverse cracking and finally buckling failure. It will be discussed how increases in ductility and thickness serve to improve the scratch resistantance of this coating/substrate system. Improvements in the scratch behavior of thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) through the use of surface-treated talc fillers and the slip agent erucamide will be shown in the second case. It was found that the surface-treatment of the talc likely allows for enhanced migration of the erucamide to the TPO surface, thus lowering the surface friction and greatly increasing scratch resistance. Finally, the effects of processing conditions, namely injection molding, on the scratch behavior of neat i-polypropylene will be represented by the results of scratch tests conducted where the scratch direction was oriented both along and transverse to the polymer melt flow direction. Based on the findings of the study, there appears to be a high degree of surface anisotropy introduced to injection-molded polymers due to complex fluid flow regimes as well as non-uniform cooling properties.

Thesis (Ph. D.) in Chemical Engineering--University of Maine, 2000. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 129-134).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2003. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-152).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2009. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-149).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1986.

Thesis (Ph. D.) in Chemical Engineering--University of Maine, 2001. / Includes vita. Advisory Committee: William N. Unertl, Prof. of Physics, Co-Advisor; Douglas W. Bousfield, Prof. of Chemical Engineering, Co-Advisor; Vincent Caccese, Prof. of Mechanical Engineering; Albert Co, Prof. of Chemical Engineering; Nick Triantafillopoulos, Adjunct Prof. of Chemical Engineering, OMNOVA Solutions. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-157).

Dry powder coating of pharmaceutical dosage forms has been investigated as an alternative method to commonly used liquid based coating techniques. Eudragit[trademark] L 100-55 and Eudragit[trademark] L 30 D-55 have been employed in enteric film coatings using aqueous dispersions, organic solutions and compression coating. However, the copolymer has not been investigated in dry powder coating applications. Initially, formulation factors and processing parameters were investigated for the dry powder coating of chlorpheniramine maleate tablets using Eudragit[trademark] L 100-55 as the delayed release polymer. Powder coating was studied as a method to prevent the migration of an ionizable, highly water soluble model drug into the polymeric film during the coating process. Eudragit[trademark] L 100-55 was pre-plasticized with triethyl citrate (TEC) using hot-melt extrusion and subsequently ground into a fine powder. Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) was used as a primer and low melting coating excipient to enhance coating powder adhesion and to improve film formation. The powder coating process was performed in a modified laboratory scale spheronizer. For the dry-powder coating of sodium valproate tablets different subcoating materials were investigated to improve powder adhesion to the substrate and to reduce the level of Eudragit[trademark] L 100-55 required for gastric resistance. PEG 3350 and Methocel[trademark] K4M were incorporated in the Eudragit[trademark] E PO and Eudragit[trademark] RL PO subcoating formulations as pore forming materials. The miscibility of the PEG 3350 and Methocel[trademark] K4M in the film coating was correlated with their ability to function as pore forming agent. The film formation process of thermally cured Eudragit[trademark] L 100-55 dry-powder coatings was characterized. The influence of film additives on relative melt viscosity, surface free energy of the polymer and the mechanical properties of powder-cast films was studied. The influence of Eudragit[trademark] E PO in Eudragit[trademark] L 100-55 film coatings applied by a dry powder coating technique on the drug release mechanism was investigated. Calculation of the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter based on solubility parameters and different analytical techniques demonstrated immiscibility of the copolymers at processing conditions. A broad range of pH dependent theophylline release profiles were obtained as a function of the polymer blend ratio. / text

Infrared astronomical observations have been severely limited by the radiation emitted by the aluminum coated surfaces of telescope mirrors. Hence, the reduction of emissivity with retention of coating durability for telescope optics is now an important area of study essential for the improvement of infrared astronomical observations. To avoid the considerable effort that a search for a new material superior to aluminum would demand with uncertain outcome, only existing materials were investigated and silver with a protective dielectric layer was thought to be a possible solution. Experiments at Kitt Peak National Observatory showed that the optical performance of a silver coating is better than aluminum in the infrared and visible regions, but even with a sapphire overcoating the silver proved to have such poor environmental resistence that an experimental mirror had to be recoated after just ten months in service. Thus, the improvement of the durability of a silver-based high reflectance coating becomes a key issue that has to be solved for such a coating to be selected for infrared astronomy. Furthermore, most telescopes are used also in the ultraviolet and so any successful coating would need to reflect well in this region. Silver is poor also in this respect. In this dissertation, we describe the development of a silver-based high reflectance coating that can withstand the humidity and pollution common in the open air and which has good ultraviolet, visible, and infrared performance. The successful design incorporates a silver reflective layer with a copper underlayer and a stack of dielectric overlayers. Prototypes of the candidate coating have been deposited on two-inch glass slides and tested in a controlled environmental chamber and under true operating conditions on Kitt Peak in Arizona. The improved durability, partly due to the copper underlayer, has been investigated with analytical techniques, including Rutherford backscattering. The results showed that the protection of the silver is due not only to the dielectric stack and the copper beneath the layer, but also to a small amount of copper that appears on the outer surface of the silver layer. This surface copper may result from diffusion through the silver layer after the coating deposition, or may be a consequence of a process during film growth. Whatever the reason, the candidate coatings have better optical performance and improved durability so they are recommended for use on large telescope mirrors for astronomical observations in the near ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectral regions.

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

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