Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:07:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RosanneLFD_DISSERT.pdf: 2030152 bytes, checksum: fac9b7e6c23b892eb3fd86ea5b5f43bc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-17 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Among the options for plastics modification more convenient, both from a technical-scientific and economic, is the development of polymer blends by processing in the molten state. This work was divide into two stages, with the aim to study the phase morphology of binary blend PMMA / PET blend and this compatibilized by the addition of the poly(methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethyl acrylate) copolymer (MMA-GMA-EA). In the first stage is analyzed the morphology of the blend at a preliminary stage where we used the bottle-grade PET in a Haake torque rheometer and the effect of compatibilizer in this blend was evaluated. In the second stage the blend was processed using the recycled PET in a single screw extruder and subsequently injection molding in the shape of specimens for mechanical tests. In both stages we used a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to observe the morphologies of the samples and an image analyzer to characterize them. In the second stage, as well as analysis by TEM, tensile test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) was performed to correlate the morphology with the mechanical properties. The samples used in morphological analyzes were sliced by cryo-ultramicrotomy technique for the analysis by TEM and the analysis by SEM and AFM, we used the flat face of the block after cut cryogenic. It was found that the size of the dispersed phase decreased with the addition of MMA-GMA-EA in blends prepared in a Haake. In the tensile test, the values of maximum tensile strength and modulus of elasticity is maintained in a range between the value of pure PMMA the pure PET, while the elongation at break was influenced by the composition by weight of the PMMA mixture. The coupling agent corroborated the results presented in the blend PMMA / PETrec / MMA-GMA-EA (80/15/5 %w/w), obtained by TEM, AFM and SEM. It was concluded that the techniques used had a good morphologic correlation, and can be confirmed for final analysis of the morphological characteristics of the blends PMMA / PET / Entre as op??es de modifica??o de pl?sticos mais convenientes, tanto do ponto de vista t?cnico-cient?fico como econ?mico, encontra-se o desenvolvimento de blendas polim?ricas por meio de processamento no estado fundido. Este trabalho foi dividido em dois est?gios, tendo como objetivo o estudo da morfologia de fases da blenda bin?ria PMMA/PET e desta compatibilizada pela adi??o do copol?mero poli(metacrilato de metila-co-metacrilato de glicidila-co-acrilato de etila) (MMA-GMA-EA). No primeiro est?gio analisou-se a morfologia da blenda e avaliou-se o efeito do compatibilizante, onde foi usado o PET grau garrafa em um re?metro de torque Haake. J? no segundo est?gio a blenda foi processada empregando desta vez o PET reciclado em uma extrusora monorosca, e posteriormente, moldada por inje??o em forma de corpos de prova para ensaios mec?nicos. Nos dois est?gios utilizou-se a microscopia eletr?nica de transmiss?o (MET) para observar as morfologias das amostras e um analisador de imagens para caracteriz?-las. No segundo estagio, al?m da an?lise por MET, foi realizado ensaio de tra??o, microscopia eletr?nica de varredura (MEV) e microscopia de for?a at?mica (MFA), buscando correlacionar a morfologia com as propriedades mec?nicas. As amostras utilizadas nas an?lises morfol?gicas foram fatiadas por meio da t?cnica crio-ultramicrotomia para na an?lise por MET e para as an?lises por MEV e por MFA, foi utilizada a face plana do tarugo p?s-corte criog?nico. Verificou-se que o tamanho da fase dispersa diminui em fun??o da adi??o do copol?mero MMA-GMA-EA nas blendas preparadas no re?metro Haake. No ensaio de tra??o, os valores de resist?ncia m?xima sob tra??o e m?dulo de elasticidade mantiveram-se em um patamar entre o valor de PMMA puro e do PET puro, enquanto que o alongamento na ruptura mostrou-se influenciada pela composi??o em massa de PMMA na mistura. O agente compatibilizante corroborou nos resultados apresentados da blenda PMMA/PETrec /MMA-MGA-EA (80/15/5), obtidos por MET, MFA e MEV. Concluiu-se que as t?cnicas morfol?gicas utilizadas apresentaram uma boa correla??o e corroboraram para an?lise final das caracter?sticas morfol?gicas das blendas PMMA/PET

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:07:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JucikleciaSR_DISSERT.pdf: 18878091 bytes, checksum: 13af0d90d6b4b0980975e46b7393cd8c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-23 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This work studied the immiscible blend of elastomeric poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottle grade with and without the use of compatibilizer agent, poly(methyl methacrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate - co-ethyl acrylate) (MGE). The characterizations of torque rheometry, melt flow index measurement (MFI), measuring the density and the degree of cristallinity by pycnometry, tensile testing, method of work essential fracture (EWF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed in pure polymer and blends PMMA/PET. The rheological results showed evidence of signs of chemical reaction between the epoxy group MGE with the end groups of the PET chains and also to the elastomeric phase of PMMA. The increase in the concentration of PET reduced torque and adding MGE increased the torque of the blend of PMMA/PET. The results of the MFI also show that elastomeric PMMA showed lower flow and thus higher viscosity than PET. In the results of picnometry observed that increasing the percentage of PET resulted in an increase in density and degree crystallinity of the blends PMMA/PET. The tensile test showed that increasing the percentage of PET resulted in an increase in ultimate strength and elastic modulus and decrease in elongation at break. However, in the phase inversion, where the blend showed evidence of a co-continuous morphology and also, with 30% PET dispersed phase and compatibilized with 5% MGE, there were significant results elongation at break compared to elastomeric PMMA. The applicability of the method of essential work of fracture was shown to be possible for most formulations. And it was observed that with increasing elastomeric PMMA in the formulations of the blends there was an improvement in specific amounts of essential work of fracture (We) and a decrease in the values of specific non-essential work of fracture (βWp) / Neste trabalho ? estudada a blenda imisc?vel poli(metacrilato de metila) (PMMA) elastom?rico com poli(tereftalato de etileno) (PET) grau garrafa com e sem o uso do agente compatibilizante, poli(metacrilato de metila-co-metacrilato de glicidilaco- acrilato de etila) (MGE). As caracteriza??es de reometria de torque, medida de ?ndice de fluidez (MFI), determina??o da densidade e do grau de cristalinidade por picnometria, ensaio de tra??o uniaxial, m?todo do trabalho essencial fratura (EWF), microscopia eletr?nica de varredura (MEV) e microscopia eletr?nica de transmiss?o (MET), foram realizadas nos pol?meros puros e nas blendas PMMA/PET. Os resultados reol?gicos apresentaram ind?cios de rea??o qu?mica entre o grupo ep?xi do MGE com os grupos finais de cadeias do PET e, tamb?m, com a fase elastom?rica do PMMA. O aumento na concentra??o de PET reduziu o torque e a adi??o do MGE aumentou o torque da blenda PMMA/PET. Os resultados de MFI mostraram tamb?m que, o PMMA elastom?rico apresentou menor fluidez e, consequentemente, maior viscosidade que o PET. Nos resultados de picnometria observou-se que, o aumento da porcentagem de PET proporcionou um aumento na densidade e no grau de cristalinidade das blendas PMMA/PET. Os ensaios de tra??o mostraram que, o aumento da porcentagem de PET proporcionou um aumento na resist?ncia m?xima e no m?dulo de elasticidade e uma diminui??o no alongamento na ruptura. Entretanto, na invers?o de fase, onde a blenda apresentou ind?cios de uma morfologia cocont?nua e tamb?m, com 30% de fase dispersa PET e compatibilizada com 5% de MGE, verificaram-se resultados expressivos de alongamento na ruptura em rela??o ao PMMA elastom?rico. A aplicabilidade do m?todo do trabalho essencial de fratura mostrou-se poss?vel para a maioria das formula??es. Observou-se ainda que, com o aumento do PMMA elastom?rico nas formula??es das blendas, ocorreu uma melhoria nos valores do trabalho essencial espec?fico de fratura (We) e uma redu??o nos valores do trabalho n?o essencial espec?fico de fratura (βWp)

Foram desenvolvidos e manufaturados compósitos porosos com estrutura de gradiente funcional em Poli (metacrilato de metila) (PMMA) e Hidroxiapatita (HAp) aplicáveis como implantes ósseos. O PMMA é largamente utilizável e aceito como material de implante tem boas propriedades mecânicas, baixo custo, fácil manufatura, porém é considerado bioinerte. A HAp é uma cerâmica comprovadamente bioativa, porém de baixas propriedades mecânicas, alto custo e de difícil manufatura. O PMMA com estrutura funcional e HAp apresentou valores próximos a 50 MPa, mas com potencial de melhoria. O objetivo deste desenvolvimento é produzir um implante com a sua superfície porosa e bioativa, para que este possa ser osteointegrado em um tempo menor ao tecido hospedeiro, melhorando a relação: material implantado/leito receptor. O conceito é baseado em uma estrutura de núcleo denso em PMMA e camada superficial porosa com superfície bioativa. A camada de PMMA porosa foi desenvolvida utilizando-se o carboximetilcelulose (CMC) como agente porogênico e HAp como agente bioativador da matriz polimérica. Foram elaboradas análises de bicompatibilidade, resistência mecânica, macro e microestrutura. Para testar a biocompatibilidade foram realizados inicialmente testes in vitro com cultura de células VERO, visando investigar a toxicidade dos materiais constituintes, a influência do novo biomaterial em atividades celulares e o comportamento destes em condições próximas daquelas a serem encontradas no ambiente de implantação. Em seguida, os testes in vivo realizados em coelhos averiguaram a interação tecido-material (bioatividade), a biocompatibilidade do material, e a potencialidade do uso do material em aplicação à superfícies (osteointegração). Foi realizada análise histológica dos tecidos explantados, onde os resultados basearam-se na análise da morfologia geral dos componentes teciduais encontrados junto ao implante. A caracterização da superfície foi realizada por testes de rugosidade, por microscopia ótica e eletrônica de varredura. Foram realizados ensaios mecânicos de compressão para analisar a resistência mecânica do biomaterial. Os resultados in vitro mostraram que os materiais utilizados não apresentaram qualquer indício de toxicidade. Através das imagens realizadas em MEV (Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura) pode se observar o crescimento de células VERO na superfície do material e em direção aos poros da matriz. A análise macroestrutural dos poros também obtida por MEV demonstrou em uma caracterização inicial do material que este apresentou características biomiméticas como poros em formato oblongo e interconectados. A média obtida do tamanho dos poros foi de aproximadamente 250 \'mü\'m. Os resultados dos ensaios mecânicos de compressão mostraram que o PMMA denso é o que mais se aproximou do tecido ósseo cortical com 101 MPa. Por fim, os resultados histológicos apontam para a biocompatibilidade do compósito, tornando-o assim aplicável como camada superficial de implantes. / Were developed and manufactured porous composite with functional gradient structure in Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) applicable as bone implants. PMMA is widely used and accepted as implant material, has good mechanical properties, low cost, easy manufacturing and considered a bioinert biomaterial, the Hap is a demonstrably bioactive ceramic with poor mechanical properties, high cost and difficult to manufacture. The PMMA functional structure and HAp had values close to 50 MPa, but with potential for improvement. The objective of this development was produced an implant with a porous surface and bioactive to be osteointegrated in a less time, improving the relationship: implanted material/receiver bed. The concept is based on a dense structure core of PMMA and a porous bioactive surface layer. The porous PMMA was developed using the carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) as a porogenic agent and hap to bioactive the PMMA matrix. Biocompatibility tests, mechanical strength tests and macro and microstructure analisys were carried out. To evaluated the biocompatibility of this material were made primarily in vitro tests, the VERO cells were used in vitro analysis aimed investigate the toxicity of the constituent materials, the influence of the new biomaterial in cellular activities and behavior in these conditions close to those to be found in the environment of deployment. Then, in vivo tests conducted in rabbits evaluated the interaction with tissue-material (bioactivity), the biocompatibility of the material, and the potential use of the material in the application areas (osseointegration). Were performed histological analysis of tissues, where the results were based on the analysis of the general morphology of the tissue components found near the implant. The surface characterization was performed by roughness tests, optical microscopy and SEM. Mechanical tests were conducted to examine the compressive strength of biomaterial. Results in vitro showed that the materials did not present any evidence of toxicity. The samples were analyzed by SEM where the growth of cells can be observed in the surface of the material and towards to the pores. The macrostructural analysis also obtained by SEM showed in an initial characterization of the material that presented bone biomimetics characteristics with oblong pores with interconnected. The average pore size obtained was approximately 250 \'mü\'m. The results of mechanical tests showed that the compression of PMMA is the densest approached the cortical bone tissue near 101 MPa. Finally, the histological results point to the biocompatibility of the composite, thus making it applicable to the surface layers of implants.

Orientadores: Júlio Roberto Bartoli, Elizabeth Grillo Fernandes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T08:51:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cecci_RicardoRodrigoRamos_M.pdf: 4182332 bytes, checksum: 4424cc557c439a1602d15a95921a2b25 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Nanotubos de carbono (NTCs) apresentam características interessantes para aplicações em eletrodos transparentes. Quando dispersos em escala nanométrica são transparentes ao espectro da luz visível e são capazes de conduzir eletricidade após atingirem percolação em matrizes poliméricas isolantes. Neste trabalho, é descrito o uso de nanotubos de carbono de camadas múltiplas (NTCMs) na produção de filmes poliméricos flexíveis transparentes e condutores como alternativa ao uso do óxido de índio dopado com estanho (ITO) em células solares orgânicas. Os nanotubos foram dispersos e purificados em solução aquosa de dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS) pelos processos de sonicação e centrifugação, e a dispersão monitorada por espectroscopia UV-Vis e potencial ?. Os nanocompósitos foram produzidos via polimerização in situ do monômero metacrilato de metila (MMA) na presença de 0 a 1% p/p NTCs e os filmes depositados através da técnica de revestimento por rotação a alta velocidade (spin coating). A reação de polimerização foi acompanhada pela calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC). Verificou-se que na presença de NTCs, a taxa de conversão do monômero é acelerada. A cinética de degradação térmica foi avaliada pelo método de Broido utilizando a análise termogravimétrica (TGA). Foi observado que os NTCs aumentam a estabilidade térmica do PMMA, retardando a degradação por despolimerização. Estudos por espectroscopia FT-IR mostraram uma banda de absorção em 1601 cm-1, (C=C), a qual não é característica do PMMA, indicando que os NTCs participam da polimerização do PMMA. Para concentrações de até 1% p/p de NTCs, os filmes PMMA/NTC apresentaram excelentes propriedades ópticas. Ou seja, baixo coeficiente de absorção, na ordem de 103 cm-1, altos valores de gap óptico (Eopt), entre 3,2 e 4,14 eV, e alta transparência por todo espectro visível, entre 88 e 93%. Nas mesmas concentrações, foi observada uma diminuição substancial na resistividade elétrica dos filmes em 8 ordens de grandeza (de 1016 para 108 ?/quadrado), comparados ao filme de PMMA puro. Entretanto, a faixa de resistividade alcançada ainda é típica de materiais isolantes. Estudos de otimização poderiam originar filmes PMMA/NTC como uma alternativa promissora para ITO em OPVs / Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have interesting features for applications in transparent electrodes. When dispersed at the nanoscale, they become transparent within the visible range and are able to conduct electricity after reaching the percolation threshold in an insulating polymer matrix. In this work, the use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is described for the production of flexible transparent conducting polymer films as an alternative to the use of indium-tin oxide (ITO) in organic solar cells. The nanotubes were dispersed and purified in an aqueous solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by the process of sonication and centrifugation, and the dispersion monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy and ? potential. The nanocomposites were produced via in situ polymerization of the monomer methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of 0 to 1 %wt. of CNTs. The films were deposited by the spin-coating technique. The polymerization reaction was monitored by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that in the presence of CNTs, the conversion rate of the monomer is accelerated. The kinetics of thermal degradation was measured according to the Broido's method by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It was observed that CNTs increase the thermal stability of PMMA, slowing degradation by depolymerization. FT-IR data showed an absorption band at 1601 cm-1 (C = C), which is not characteristic of PMMA, indicating that the CNTs takes place in the polymerization of PMMA. For concentrations up to 1wt% of CNTs, the PMMA/CNT films had excellent optical properties, i.e., a low absorption coefficient in the order of 103 cm-1, wide optical gap (Eopt) between 3.2 and 4.14 eV, and high transparency within the whole visible range, between 88 and 93%. In the same concentrations, the electrical resistivity of the films dropped by 8 orders of magnitude (from 1016 to 108 ?/sqr), compared to the pure PMMA film. Even though this electrical resistivity value is typical of insulating materials, further optimization studies could provide PMMA/CNT films as a promising alternative to ITO in OPV / Mestrado / Ciencia e Tecnologia de Materiais / Mestre em Engenharia Química

The work deals mainly with preparation protocol of nanocomposites. The task of this work is to study structural and procedural parameteres that control the dispersion of nanoparticles in polymer solution to be able to prepare desired spatial organization of nanoparticles. The work resolves the effect of various components such as polymer matrices, nanoparticles and solvent, in which matrices and nanoparticles are blended. Used components control final dispersion state of nanoparticles and it influences also properties of investigated materials such as glass transition temperature, stiffness and rheological properties.

Amine transaminases (ATA) catalyse the transfer of an amino group from one molecule and replaces a ketone or aldehyde with the amino group, the amino group on the amino-donor is replaced with a ketone or aldehyde. This enzyme, ATA from Chromobacterium violaceum, has previously been used to catalyse the reaction involving amphetamine, therefore, it might be possible to use this enzyme to convert amphetamine and the product absorbs in the UV spectrum and can therefore be measured spectrophotometrically. The aim of the project was to explore the possibility of using ATA in a portable biosensor for the detection of amphetamine. A literature study of commercially available portable biosensors was performed, activity of the free enzyme was tested against two substrates, methylbenzylamine (MBA) and amphetamine. Research on immobilization techniques, materials, and surface functionalization was done to chose suitable methods for immobilizing ATA. Two immobilization methods were suggested and one of the methods, ionic immobilization through His-tag towards Ni2+ on the surface, was tested for enzyme activity toward MBA. The enzyme activity of the free enzyme in solution towards MBA was comparable to previously reported enzyme activity, however, no enzyme activity towards amphetamine was observed. No activity was observed for the immobilized enzyme, but it might be due to the experimental design, more experiments need to be performed to draw conclusions. / Amintransaminaser (ATA) katalyserar överförandet av en amingrupp från en molekyl och ersätter en keton eller aldehyd med den amingruppen, amingruppen på amin-donatorn ersätts med en keton eller aldehyd. Det här enzymet, ATA från Chromobacterium violaceum (CvATA), har tidigare använts för att katalysera en reaktion som involverar amfetamin, därför skulle detta enzym kunna användas på amfetamin. Produkten av reaktionen absorberar i UV spektrumet och kan mätas med en spektrofotometer. Målet med projektet var att utforska möjligheten av att använda CvATA i en biosensor för att detektera amfetamin. En litteraturstudie på kommersiellt tillgängliga bärbara biosensorer genomfördes, aktiviteten av det fria enzymet testades mot två substrat, metylbenzylamin (MBA) och amfetamin. Information samlades om immobiliseringstekniker, material, och ytfunktionalisering gjordes för att välja ut lämpliga metoder för immobilisering av CvATA. Två immobiliseringsmetoder föreslogs och en av metoderna, immobilisering via enzymets His6-tagg och Ni2+ joner på ytan, testades för enzymaktivitet mot MBA. Enzymaktiviteten av det fria enzymet i lösning mot MBA var i samma storleksordning som tidigare rapporterad enzymaktivitet, men ingen enzymaktivitet mot amfetamin kunde observeras. Ingen aktivitet kunde observeras för det immobiliserade enzymet, men det kan vara på grund av designen på experimentet, fler experiment behöver göras för att kunna dra några fler slutsatser.

No description available.

Ce mémoire traite de deux types de polymères en films minces: le poly (méthacrylate de méthyle) (PMMA) et le polypyrrole (PPy). Ces films minces ont été déposés par voie sèche et par voie humide. La voie sèche consiste à faire croitre les films polymères par un procédé original de dépôt chimique en phase vapeur assisté par photons (Chemical Vapor Deposition, CVD). La croissance implique l'activation UV des espèces monomères dans la phase gazeuse. Les deux polymères PMMA et PPy ont été obtenus pour la première fois par ce procédé de photo-CVD. La caractérisation des propriétés a mis en évidence des applications possibles en microélectronique, micro-optique et les dispositifs générant de la chaleur. La voie humide mise en œuvre pour déposer des films minces de polymères et d’hybrides organiques/inorganiques est une méthode électrochimique. Des films de PPy (organique) et de TiO2 nanostructuré (inorganique) ont été obtenus et caractérisés par différentes techniques électrochimiques. Des aspects supplémentaires de la croissance de PPy ont été mis en évidence par la résonance des plasmons de surface. / The thesis deals with two types of polymeric thin films: poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polypyrrole (PPy). The thin films were grown by a dry and a wet route. The dry route involved the growth of the polymeric films by an original process of Chemical Vapor Deposition, namely Photo-CVD. The growth involves the UV activation of the monomer species in the gas phase. Both PMMA and PPy were obtained for the first time by this Photo-CVD. The characterization highlighted properties with possible applications in microelectronics, micro-optics and as heat generating devices. The wet route involved the growth of polymeric and hybrid organic/inorganic thin films by an electrochemical approach. Organic PPy and inorganic TiO2 nanostructures were obtained and characterized by various electrochemical techniques. The growth aspects of PPy were supplementary highlighted by the Surface Plasmon Resonance.

Le poly (acide lactique) (PLA), est un polymère synthétisé à partir de ressources renouvelables, qui est l'objet de beaucoup d'études à l'heure actuelle mais qui souffre d'une faible résistance au choc. Le but de ce travail est de rechercher des pistes permettant la préparation d'un matériau à base de PLA avec une résistance au choc améliorée tout en minimisant la perte de résistance à la traction. Les travaux présentés ici ont étudié le rôle de nanoparticules élastomères de poly (acrylate de butyle) (PBA) chargées de laponite (LRD) (PBA-LRD) ainsi que de nanocomposites coeur-écorce (PBA-LRD)/poly(méthacrylate de méthyle) (PMMA) en tant qu'agents de renforcement d'une matrice de PLA. Ces nanoparticules ont été dispersées dans la matrice PLA à l'état fondu. La synthèse de ces nanoparticules a été effectuée par polymérisation en émulsion ou miniémulsion. La laponite a été incorporée dans les nanoparticules afin de minimiser la perte de la rigidité tout en améliorant la résistance au choc de PLA. Trois types de tensioactifs et des modifications de surface de la laponite ont été testées pour améliorer l'adhérence entre les particules de PBA et la matrice de PLA. Enfin une écorce de PMMA a été utilisée pour assurer la bonne adhérence entre les particules de PBA et de matrice PLA. Nous avons montré que les particules coeur-écorce ont permis d'augmenter la résistance au choc au 3 fois du PLA tout en réduisant la diminution du module d'Young et la perte de résistance à la traction (~25%). Les propriétés de les particules synthétiques et les propriétés des mélange du PLA avec les particules PBA ou particules coeur-écorce ont été étudiées par diverses techniques de caractérisation (DLS, FTIR, ATG, MET, MEB, RMN 1H, DSC, DMTA...) / Poly (lactic acid) (PLA), come from renewable resources, one of the most important biopolymers, suffers from weak impact resistance. The aim of this work is to develop a process that will allow preparing a PLA with improved impact resistance while minimizing loss in tensile strength. The work presented here examined in detail the synthesis of poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) nanoparticles charged with laponite (LRD) (PBA-LRD) and (PBA-LRD) / poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) core-shell nanocomposites. They were dispersed phase in PLA matrix and were synthesized by emulsion or miniemulsion polymerization. The clay such as laponite was included in these nanoparticles to minimize the loss of rigidity while improving the impact resistance of PLA. Note that three types of surfactants and some modify agents for LRD have been tried to improve the adhesion between the PBA particles and matrix PLA, PMMA was finally used to ensure a good adhesion between the PBA particles and the matrix. To this end, we explored successively the PLA blend, using PBA nanocomposites and the PBA/PMMA core-shell nanoparticles as reinforcing agents, with improved impact resistance, showing that core-shell particles allowed increasing of 3 times of impact strength of the PLA with a minimum amount of loss (~25%) in Young?s modulus and tensile strength. The properties of the synthetic particles and the properties of PLA blends have been demonstrated by various characterization techniques (DLS, FTIR, TGA, TEM, SEM, 1H-NMR, DSC, DMTA ...)

Segmental chain dynamics in polymer blends is a very important topic, not only from a fundamental point of view but also from technological applications. Because of the difficulties in the commercialization of new polymers, industries have turned increasingly towards blending of polymers to optimise their end use (mechanical, rheological) properties. The design of tailor-made materials would be enormously facilitated by the understanding of the blending phenomena at a molecular level. The key question to address is to understand the dynamics of each component of the blend modified by blending? The thesis has systematically studied the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the chain dynamics, demixing temperature, structural properties and evolution of morphology in a classical miscible polymer blend system (PVDF/PMMA). The thesis comprises of six chapters, Chapter 1 is an introductory chapter that outlines the fundamentals of polymer blends, crystallisation in polymer blends and the basics of dielectric spectroscopy. As one of the rationales of this work is to systematic study whether phase separated in these blends can be used as a tool to develop membrane for water purification. This chapter also gives an overview of the reported studies of ultrafiltration membrane fabrication, factors affecting membrane morphology and flux. In Chapter 2, the materials and methodology used to carry out experiments and the experimental procedures are discussed. Chapter 3 discusses the effect of concentration of PMMA and amine functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) on the crystallisation induced phase separation using FTIR, XRD, POM and shear rheology. Electron microscopy and selective etching confirmed the localisation of MWNTs in the PVDF phase of the blends. Blends with MWNTs facilitated in heterogeneous nucleation manifesting in an increase in crystallisation temperature. The crystallisation induced phase separation in PVDF/PMMA blends was observed to influence the interconnected network of MWNTs in the blends. Chapter 4 discuss the effect of concentration of PMMA and MWNTs on the miscibility and the segmental relaxations was probed in situ by DSC and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). The dynamic heterogeneity in the blends as manifested by the presence of an extra relaxation at a higher frequency at or below the crystallisation induced phase separation temperature was also discussed. We found that PVDF/PMMA blend (PVDF ≥ 80 wt%) exhibits three distinct relaxations; αc corresponding to crystalline PVDF, αβ segmental relaxation of PMMA and αm of amorphous miscibility whereas all relaxations overlap and constitute a single broad relaxation in PVDF/PMMA blend (PVDF ≤ 70 wt%). This confirms that there is a certain composition width in this blend wherein three distinct relaxations can be traced. This could due to many reasons like the width of crystal-amorphous interphase in the crystal lamellae, crystal size and morphology is strongly contingent on the concentration of PMMA. Relaxations are not very distinct in presence of MWNTs due to defective spherulites that shift the relaxations towards a higher frequency. Chapter 5 has attempted to tune the microporous morphology of PVDF membranes using crystallisation induced phase separation in PVDF/PMMA blends. As PVDF/PMMA is a melt-miscible blend, the samples were allowed to crystallise and the amorphous PMMA phase, which isolates in the interlamellar or inter-spherulitic regions in the blends, was etched out to generate microporous structures. The pore sizes can be tuned by varying the PMMA concentration in the blends. We observed that 60/40 PVDF/PMMA blends showed larger pores as compared to 90/10 PVDF/PMMA blends. We further modified PVDF membranes by sputtering silver on the surface. The bacterial cell viability was distinctly suppressed (99 %) in silver sputtered membranes. The ICP analysis suggests that slow Ag+ ions release from the sputtered membrane surface assisted in developing antibacterial surface. Our findings open new avenues in designing water filtration membranes and also help in understanding the crystallisation kinetics for tuning pore size in membranes. Chapter 6 summarises the important results of this work. MWNTs act as hetero nucleating agent and specifically interact with PVDF thereby influences the dynamics of PVDF chains. MWNTs can also restrict the amorphous segmental mobility and can influence the intermolecular cooperativity and coupling. The crystallisation induced phase separation in various blends can result in various crystalline morphologies depending on the PVDF concentration. By selectively etching PMMA from the phase-separated blends, microporous morphology can be generated