In Chapter 1, theories cited background of these studies as well as chemical synthesis methods used are introduced. / In Chapter 2, theories of static and dynamic light scattering (LLS) as well as details of the LLS instrumentation are introduced, especially the application of LLS to polymer solutions. / In Chapter 3, we present the study of the self-assembly of oligo( p-phenyteneethynylene)-based coil-rod-coil and rod-coil-rod triblock copolymers in the solvent mixture of toluene and hexane by using a combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering. UV-vis spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy. Our results reveal that the aggregation in the solvent mixture is strongly influenced by the triblock copolymer structure. For the coil-rod-coil (PS-OPE-PS) triblock copolymer, small well-defined aggregates are formed in the solvent mixture with different toluene/hexane ratios. The coiled PS blocks entangle with the OPE block to restrict possible pi-pi stacking and make the OPE chain backbone more planar. The red-shift in the UV-vis and fluorescence spectra indicates the formation of 3-type aggregates. The rod-coil-rod (OPE-PS-OPE) triblock copolymer chains form large "disk-like" micelles with an ordered OPE core and a collapsed PS shell. The blue-shift in the UV-vis and fluorescence spectra shows the formation of H-type aggregates; namely, the OPE block in the core are parallel to each other so that there is stronger interchain pi-pi interaction. / In Chapter 4, we present the study of the aggregation of C60-PEO-C 60 chains in the chloronaphthalene/benzene solvent mixture with different ratios by using a combination of static and dynamic laser light scattering. Chloronaphthalene is a good solvent for C60 but a poor solvent for the PEO chain. On the other hand, benzene is a good solvent for the PEO chain but a poor solvent for Co. Individual polymer chains or small micelles coexist with large aggregates in solvent mixture. Our results show that the structures of the aggregates strongly depend on the composition of the solvent mixtures, which reflects in different ratios of <Rg>/<R h>, where <Rg> and <Rh> are z-average root-mean-square radius of gyration and hydrodynamic radius, respectively. / In Chapter 5, we present a study of reversible formation and decomposition of star polymer clusters. First, we synthesized 4-aim bromide-end star polystyrene chains by using atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and then modified the end group from bromide to thiol since it can be slowly oxidized in air to induce the clustering among 4-arm star polystyrene chains. The clustering is reversible under a reduction condition. Such formation and fragmentation (decomposition) of the polymer clusters in toluene was followed by LLS. To induce the reduction, DTT was added. Our results reveal that in the clustering, the fast mode is attributed to the cooperative diffusion of individual 4-arm star polystyrene chains (unimers), while the slow mode is related to the diffusion of large clusters. In the fragmentation, the slow mode becomes fast and its intensity contribution decreases as the reduction time increases, reflecting the decreases of the size and the number of large polymer clusters. Our results suggest that the clusters fragmentation induced by thiol-functionalized 4-PS chains in toluene dilute solution follows the universal RLCA regime, but in a reversed fashion. / In this thesis, we did the following studies: (1) The association of two rod-coil triblock copolymers: polystyrene-oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)-polystyrene (PS-OPE-PS) and oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene)-polystyrene-oligo( p-phenyleneethynylene) (OPE-PS-OPE) in a toluene/hexane mixture as well as of C60-Poly(ethylene oxide)-C60 in a chloronaphthalene/benzene mixture. (2) The formation and fragmentation of 4-arm-PS-SH cluster in toluene via the oxidization in air to form disulfide crosslink as well as the decomposition of the resultant cross-linked 4-arm star polystyrene clusters with reversible disulfide groups in toluene via reduction to thiol group by 2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butanethiol (DTT). / Huo, Hong. / "August 2007." / Adviser: Chi Wu. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-02, Section: B, page: 1037. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 109). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

by Kwan Chi Man Simon. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. / Abstract --- p.i / Abstract (Chinese) --- p.iii / Acknowledgment --- p.iv / Contents --- p.v / Abbreviations --- p.viii / List of Figures --- p.xiv / List of Tables --- p.xvii / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Theoretical background --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Static laser light scattering --- p.5 / Chapter 2.2 --- Dynamic laser light scattering --- p.5 / Chapter 2.3 --- Gel Permeation Chromatography --- p.6 / Chapter 2.4 --- Chain Flexibility --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Flexible chains --- p.9 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Stiff chains --- p.12 / Chapter 2.5 --- Calibration between translational diffusion coefficient D and molar mass M --- p.14 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Conversion between line-Width and molar Mass distributions --- p.14 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Using a set of Narrowly Distributed Standards --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Using Two or More Broadly Distributed Samples --- p.16 / Chapter 2.6 --- "Calibration by off-line GPC, Static and Dynamic LLS" --- p.16 / Chapter 2.7 --- References --- p.19 / Chapter 3. --- Experimental --- p.21 / Chapter 3.1 --- Laser Light Scattering Instrumentation --- p.21 / Chapter 3.2 --- Refractive index increment measurement --- p.23 / Chapter 3.3 --- Gel permeation chromatography --- p.24 / Chapter 3.4 --- References --- p.25 / Chapter 4. --- Laser Light Scattering Studies of Soluble High Performance Fluorine- containing Polyimides --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2 --- Sample Preparation --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.28 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusion --- p.40 / Chapter 4.5 --- References --- p.42 / Chapter 5. --- Characterization of novel optically active conjugated polyarylenes and poly(aryleneethynylene)s by a combination of Laser Light Scattering and Gel Permeation Chromatography --- p.45 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 5.2 --- Sample Preparation --- p.48 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and Discussion --- p.48 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusion --- p.56 / Chapter 5.5 --- References --- p.61 / Appendix --- p.62 / Chapter A.1 --- Static laser light scattering --- p.62 / Chapter A.1.1 --- Scattering from a small particle --- p.62 / Chapter A. 1.2 --- Scattering from a large particle --- p.62 / Chapter A. 1.3 --- Scattering by macroscopic systems and Theory of Fluctuations --- p.65 / Chapter A.1.3.1 --- Scattering by gases and liquids --- p.67 / Chapter A. 1.4 --- Scattering by solutions of small molecules --- p.68 / Chapter A. 1.4.1 --- Scattering from polymer solution --- p.70 / Chapter A.2 --- Dynamic laser light scattering --- p.71 / Chapter A.2.1 --- Line-width measurement --- p.75 / Chapter A.2.2 --- Data analysis --- p.77

"May 2003" / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 261-270) / xvi, 271, [16] leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Chemistry and Physics, 2003

Graduation date: 1994

No description available.

Shear and extensional flows of dilute polymer solutions were studied experimentally in an attempt to understand the mechanism of polymer-induced drag reduction. A flowcell capable of simulating the dynamics of a turbulent boundary layer, involving the motion of counter-rotating vortices, was designed and fabricated. The pressure drop across the flowcell was measured for different flow arrangements, first with a Newtonian fluid and then with drag reducing, dilute polymer solutions. The pressure drop in excess of the Newtonian baseline, after accounting for viscous effects, was used as a measure of elastic effects. With the dilute polymer solutions, elastic effects were observed both in shear, extensional, as well as presheared extensional flows. These effects can be attributed to additional normal stresses generated by shearing. For extensional flows, the observed effects were independent of elongation rates, indicating that a conclusion regarding the mechanism of drag reduction cannot be made from the flowfield investigated.

Shear and extensional flows of dilute polymer solutions were studied experimentally in an attempt to understand the mechanism of polymer-induced drag reduction. A flowcell capable of simulating the dynamics of a turbulent boundary layer, involving the motion of counter-rotating vortices, was designed and fabricated. The pressure drop across the flowcell was measured for different flow arrangements, first with a Newtonian fluid and then with drag reducing, dilute polymer solutions. The pressure drop in excess of the Newtonian baseline, after accounting for viscous effects, was used as a measure of elastic effects. With the dilute polymer solutions, elastic effects were observed both in shear, extensional, as well as presheared extensional flows. These effects can be attributed to additional normal stresses generated by shearing. For extensional flows, the observed effects were independent of elongation rates, indicating that a conclusion regarding the mechanism of drag reduction cannot be made from the flowfield investigated.

Polymeric depressant adsorption on the surface of talc was investigated using in situ Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy. The polymeric depressants investigated were an unmodified polyacrylamide (Polymer-N) and a hydroxyl substituted polyacrylamide (Polymer-H), an unmodified dextrin (Dextrin WY) and a hydroxylpropyl substituted dextrin (HP Dextrin), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the thermodynamic properties of adsorption, the kinetics of adsorption and desorption, and the mechanisms driving adsorption. / Thesis (PhDApSc(MineralsandMaterials))--University of South Australia, 2007.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-133).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 179-185). Also available on the Internet.