In this study / ferrocenyl and naphthalenyl substituted quinoxaline derivatives / 5,8- bis (2,3- dihydrothieno [3,4-b] [1,4] dioxin-5-yl)-2- (naphthalen-2-yl)- 3- ferrocenyl- 4a,8a-dihydroquinoxaline / 5,8- bis (2,3-dihydrothieno [3,4-b] [1,4]dioxin-5-yl) -2- (phenyl) -3-ferrocenylquinoxaline / 5,8-bis (2,3-dihydrothieno [3,4-b] [1,4]dioxin-5-yl) -2,3- di(naphthalen-2-yl)quinoxaline and trihexylthiophene and thiophene coupled benzimidazole derivatives / 4-(tert-butyl)-4,7-bis(4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)spiro[benzo[d]imidazole-2,1-cyclohexane] and 4-(tert-butyl)-4, 7-bis(thiophenyl)spiro[benzo[d]imidazole-2,1-cyclohexane] were used as photosensitizers to broaden the active area of diaryliodonium salts. Both quinoxaline and benzimidazole derivatives are expected to be efficient in cationic photopolymerization with a variety of vinyl and oxide monomers at room temperature upon long wavelength UV irradiation. Photopolymerization will be initiated by diphenyliodonium salts and monitored with Optical Pyrometry. Characterization will be completed with optical absorption, flourescence studies and photopolymerization under solar irradiation.

The first part of this work reports a comparative study on electrochromic properties of two Donor-Acceptor-Donor (DAD) type polymers, namely poly(2-heptyl-4,7-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole) (BImTh) and poly(4,7-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-2-heptyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole) (BImEd). DAD type polymers are designed to bear the same acceptor unit, benzimidazole and two different donor units, thiophene and 3,4-ethylenedioxy thiophene (EDOT) to make a comparison based on the donor unit effect. The resulting polymers are both multichromic and have low band gap values (1.93 eV for PBImTh and 1.74 eV for PBImEd). In the second part, 4,7-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-2-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (BImBEd) is synthesized. In order to figure out the presence of an intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the amine bond of the imidazole ring and the oxygen of the EDOT molecule, different amounts of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions were added during electrochemical polymerization. These treatments caused protonation of the imine and deprotonation of the amine bonds respectively. In order to prove the changes in the optical properties of the polymers due to different number of protonated and deprotonated imine and amine bonds, 1,4-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)benzene (BEDOT-B) was also synthesized and treated with the same procedures. Results showed that it is possible to control the main chain conformation of even an insoluble polymer via acid and base treatments during in situ polymerization.

A series of pyrene end-labeled monodisperse poly(ethylene oxide)s (PEO(X)-Py2 where X represents the number average molecular weight (Mn) of the PEOs and equals 2, 5, 10 and 16.5 K) and one pyrene mono-labeled PEO (PEO(2K)-Py1) were synthesized and characterized in solution using fluorescence. First, the end-to-end cyclization (EEC) of PEO(X)-Py2 was investigated in seven organic solvents with viscosities (η) ranging from 0.32 to 1.92 mPa•s. The classical Birks scheme was used to globally fit the pyrene monomer and excimer fluorescence decays. The fraction of pyrenes that did not form excimer (ffree) was found to increase with increasing η and Mn. This result was contrary to the assumptions made by Birks’ scheme. To account for this, ffree was assumed to represent the fraction of PEO chains other than the monolabeled polymer impurities that cannot accomplish EEC. A fluorescence blob model (FBM) was applied to handle this assumption in the process of excimer formation for the PEO(X)-Py2 samples in solution. The radius of a blob, Rblob, in organic solvents was determined according to the results retrieved from the FBM. To quantitatively account for the existence of pyrene impurity in pyrene-labeled macromolecules, known amounts of PEO(2K)-Py1 were added into a PEO(2K)-Py2 solution and the fluorescence decays were fitted globally according to the Birks scheme and “model free” (MF) analysis to verify the validation of the MF analysis. The MF analysis was then applied to determine the amounts of 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PyBA) that had been added to a solution of pyrene end-labeled fourth generation dendritic hybrid (Py16-G4-PS). The results demonstrated that the contribution from unwanted fluorescent species could be isolated and quantitatively accounted for by fitting the fluorescence decays of the pyrene monomer and excimer globally with the MF analysis. Since the PEO(X)-Py2 samples form hydrophobic pyrene aggregates in aqueous solution, a sequential model (SM) was proposed to characterize the pyrene excimer formation of PEO(X)-Py2 in water at different polymer concentration (CP). The capture distance over which the pyrenyl end-groups experience hydrophobic forces in water was determined by assuming that the end-to-end distances of the PEO(X)-Py2 samples adopt a Gaussian distribution and that the fraction of pyrenes that are aggregated (fE0) determined by the sequential model corresponds to the fraction of PEO(X)-Py2 chains whose end-to-end distance is smaller than the hydrophobic capture distance. Since a surfactant can interact with a hydrophobically modified water-soluble polymer in aqueous solution, the interactions taking place between PEO(X)-Py2 and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were investigated at a low PEO(X)-Py2 concentration. The pyrene monomer and excimer fluorescence decays of the PEO(X)-Py2 and SDS solutions were acquired at various SDS concentrations and globally fitted according to the MF analysis to retrieve the parameters that described the kinetics of pyrene excimer formation. At high SDS concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), the pyrene end-groups of the short-chain samples (PEO(2K)-Py2 and PEO(5K)-Py2) were incorporated inside the same micelle and excimer was formed intramolecularly, while most pyrene groups of the long-chain samples (PEO(10K)-Py2 and PEO(16.5K)-Py2) were isolated into different micelles. Lastly, both the rheological properties and fluorescence behavior of a pyrene-labeled hydrophobically-modified alkali-swellable emulsion (Py-HASE) polymer in basic aqueous solution with SDS were studied. Furthermore, a joint experimental setup that combined a rheometer and a steady-state fluorometer was applied to investigate at the molecular level the effect that a shearing force had on the polymeric network. However, despite the dramatic decrease in solution viscosity with increasing shear rate, no change in the fluorescence spectra was detected, suggesting that changes in the polymeric network that affected the balance of intra- versus intermolecular pyrene associations did not impact the process of excimer formation. Together the experiments described in this thesis represent the broadest set of examples found in the scientific literature where information on the dynamics and level of association of pyrene-labeled polymers has been retrieved through the quantitative analysis of the fluorescence decays acquired with pyrene-labeled polymers in solution.

In this study, pH-sensitive poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) hydrogels were synthesized as controlled release systems in the presence of N,N-methylene bisacrylamide as crosslinker and ammonium persulfate as initiator. A set of hydrogels were used in the form they were prepared. One set of hydrogels were prepared as porous networks by incorporating sodium chloride into the reaction medium and then leaching of it after the completion of polymerization reaction. Two sets of hydrogels were modified by argon-plasma at different discharge powers. Hydrogels were characterized by 13C-NMR, XPS, SEM, ATR-FTIR, ESR as well as equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) and contact angle measurements. Prepared hydrogels were loaded with a model antibiotic, ciprofloxacin-HCl (CPFX), and in-vitro release of CPFX from hydrogel matrices were examined in buffer solutions of varying pH values. There are two factors determining the release rates of CPFX / one is the pH-dependent solubility of CPFX and the other is EDS of the hydrogel samples. For porous samples drug loading and release rates were higher when compared to the control samples and CPFX solubility dominated over release kinetics. Plasma treatment resulted in prolonged release rates in acidic medium.

Polymer modified bitumen is a binder obtained by the incorporation of various types of polymers in bitumen using mechanical mixing or chemical reactions. There are several factors affecting the properties of polymer modified bituminous composites such as / chemical composition of bitumen, kind of polymer and filler, compatibility of bitumen and polymer, amount of bitumen, polymer and filler, particle size of filler and process conditions. The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of polymer type and concentration on mechanical, thermal, properties and morphologies of bitumen based composites. It was also aimed to determine the effect of process temperature on mechanical and thermal properties of bituminous composites. Bituminous composites were prepared by using Brabender Plastic Coder, PLV 151. Mixing was made at two different temperatures (150 &ordm / C and 180 &ordm / C) at 60 rpm for 20 minutes. Three different kinds of polymer and four different polymer concentrations were used to understand the effect of polymer type and polymer concentration on bituminous composites properties. Low density polyethylene (LDPE), styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS) and ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) were chosen as polymer. The compositions were adjusted as the polymer volumes were equal to 5%, 10%, 20% and 50% of bitumen volume. According to the test results, addition of polymer increases the mechanical properties, reduces the melt flow index and thermal conductivity values of bituminous composites. Morphological analysis results show that, fibrillation occurs at tensile fractured surfaces of composites which contain LDPE and EVA when the polymer concentration reaches 20% of bitumen volume.

In this study, polythiophene(PTP)/montmorillonite(MMT) nanocomposites were synthesized by in situ intercalative polymerization and chemical oxidative polymerization. In in situ intercalative polymerization method, composites containing 90 and 95% MMT were prepared. In chemical oxidative polymerization method, a series of composites ranging from 1 to 15% by weight MMT were synthesized. Thermal and morphological properties of samples were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) / electrical conductivities were measured by four probe technique. Since PTP/MMT composites are unprocessable PTP/polypropylene(PP) composites were prepared. Amounts of PTP were changed in the range 2-30 % by weight in the composites. Mechanical properties were investigated by tensile tests. Four probe technique was used for measurement of electrical conductivities. Morphological characterizations were made by SEM. Formation of PTP and its incorporation in PTP/MMT composite were confirmed by FTIR analysis. DSC results showed that PTP does not have any thermal transition in the range 25-300 0C. TGA results showed that PTP/MMT composites have outstanding stability compared to that of PTP. XRD analysis revealed the formation of nanocomposites resulting from intercalation of thiophene in MMT at high MMT contents. Composites were observed as globular particles and clusters in SEM studies. Conductivity values of PTP/MMT composites were in the order of 10-3 S/cm. It is observed that tensile modulus of PTP/PP composites increases by the addition of PTP, but percentage strain at break does not appreciably change. Increasing PTP content increased electrical conductivity.

The Knorr-Paal reaction of 1,4-di(2-thienyl)-1,4-butanedione with aniline to yield 1-phenyl-2,5-di(2-thienyl)-1H-pyrrole (PTP) was performed in the presence of catalytical amounts of p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA). Chemical polymerization of the monomer yielded a soluble polymer. Structures of both the monomer and the polymer were investigated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H and 13C NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The average molecular weight of the chemically synthesized polymer was determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) as Mn = 7.2 x 103 g/mol. The electrochemical oxidative polymerization of PTP was carried out via potentiodynamic electrolysis in the presence of LiClO4, NaClO4 (1:1) being the supporting electrolyte in acetonitrile. Electrochemical copolymerization of PTP with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was carried out in acetonitrile (ACN)/ NaClO4/LiClO4 (0.1M) solvent-electrolyte couple system via potentiodynamic electrolysis. Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate electrochemical behavior of the monomer and redox reactions of conducting polymers. Conductivities of films of the polymers were measured by four-probe technique. Surface morphologies of the films were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Electrochromic properties of the conducting polymers were investigated via spectroelectrochemistry, kinetic and colorimetry studies. Spectroelectrochemical analysis of P(PTP) revealed electronic transitions at 413, 600 and 900 nm corresponding to &amp / #960 / -&amp / #960 / * transition, polaron, and bipolaron band formations, respectively. The spectroelectrochemical behavior of the P(PTP-co-EDOT) in comparison to those of the respective homopolymers revealed solid evidence of copolymerization based upon the differences in the spectral signatures. Switching time of the polymers was evaluated by kinetic studies upon measuring the percent transmittance (%T) at the maximum contrast point. As an application, absorption/transmission type electrochromic devices with ITO/homopolymer(copolymer)/gel electrolyte/PEDOT/ITO configuration was constructed, where homopolymer (copolymer) and PEDOT functioned as the anodically and the cathodically coloring layers, respectively. Spectroelectrochemistry, switching ability and open circuit memory of the devices were investigated. The results revealed that these devices have good switching times, reasonable contrasts and optical memories.

Different substituted thiophene and pyrrole monomers namely hexamethylene (bis-3-thiopheneacetamide) (HMTA), N-(4-(3-thienylmethylene)-oxycarbonylphenyl)maleimide (MBThi), 2,4,6-Tris-(4-pyrrol-1-yl-phenoxy)-[1,3,5]triazine (TriaPy), 2,4,6-Tris-(thiophen-3-ylmethoxy)-[1,3,5] triazine (TriaTh), and N-(2-(thiophen-3-yl)methylcarbonyloxyethyl) maleimide (NMT) were synthesized. The chemical structures of the monomers were characterized by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopies. Electrochemical behavior of the monomers in the presence and absence of comonomers were studied by cyclic voltammetry. Subsequently, monomers were homopolymerized and copolymerized via electrochemical methods and the resultant polymers were characterized by FTIR, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and conductivity measurements. Second part of the study was devoted to investigate one of most interesting property of conducting polymers, the ability to switch reversibly between the two states of different optical properties, &ldquo / electrochromism&rdquo / . In recent years there has been a growing interest in application of conducting polymers in electrochromic devices. Thus, electrochromic properties of the synthesized conducting polymers were investigated by several methods like spectroelectrochemistry, kinetic and colorimetry studies. Spectroelectrochemistry experiments were performed in order to investigate key properties of conjugated polymers such as band gap, maximum absorption wavelength, the intergap states that appear upon doping and evolution of polaron and bipolaron bands. Switching time and optical contrast of the homopolymers and copolymers were evaluated via kinetic studies. Results implied the possible use of these materials in electrochromic devices due to their good electrochromic properties.

The effects of melt state compounding and addition order of ethylene-butyl acrylate-maleic anhydride (E-BA-MAH), ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate (E-GMA), ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate (E-MA-GMA) terpolymer and/or three types of organoclays (Cloisite&reg / 15A, 25A and 30B) on morphology, thermal, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of polyamide-6 are investigated. XRD patterns show that the interlayer spacing for Cloisite&reg / 15A remained unchanged / however it increased for the organoclays Cloisite&reg / 25A and Cloisite&reg / 30B in both polyamide-6/organoclay binary nanocomposites and in polyamide-6/organoclay/impact modifier ternary systems. TEM analyses indicate that exfoliated-intercalated nanocomposites are formed. Sizes of elastomeric domains in nanocomposites are larger than the domains in their corresponding blends. The MFI results show that incorporation of elastomer reduces the MFI, due to the formation of graft copolymer. Both storage and loss moduli and complex viscosity of polyamide-6 increase with organoclay addition. In DMA measurements, in rubbery region, all nanocomposites show higher storage modulus than the unfilled counterparts. In general, the organoclays increase tensile and flexural strength, Young&amp / #8217 / s and flexural modulus and elongation at break, but decrease the impact strength, on the contrary, the addition of elastomer has the opposite effect. Generally, Cloisite&reg / 15A containing ternary nanocomposites have higher tensile, flexural and impact strength and Young&amp / #8217 / s and flexural modulus than the ternary nanocomposites prepared with Cloisite&reg / 25A and Cloisite&reg / 30B. In general, nanocomposites processed by adding all the ingredients simultaneously give higher tensile and flexural strength and modulus than the nanocomposites produced by other mixing sequences.

In this study, effect of injection molding process parameters on fiber length and on mechanical properties of Polyamide-6 / glass fiber composite were investigated to produce higher performance composites. Polyamide-6 was first compounded with an E-grade glass fiber in a co-rotating intermeshing twin screw extruder. Then, by using this composite, twenty-five types of experiments were performed by injection molding by changing the barrel temperature, injection pressure, hold pressure, mold temperature, cooling time and screw speed. Izod notched impact, tensile, viscosity, heat deflection temperature, differential scanning calorimetry tests were performed on injection molded samples. By performing these tests, the effects of process parameters on mechanical properties and on fiber length were observed. In order to understand the variation in mechanical properties, thermal tests were also conducted. Also, fiber length distributions of the samples were measured.Experimental data show that fiber breakage decreases with increasing screw speed, injection pressure, however, fiber length increases with increasing barrel temperature, mold temperature and cooling time. Fiber length is almost not affected with the hold pressure. It is assumed in this study that crystallinity is not affected with injection pressure, hold pressure and screw speed. As barrel temperature and cooling time increase, crystallinity increases, however, as mold temperature increases, crystallinity decreases. Impact strength, tensile modulus and tensile strength increase, whereas elongation at break decreases with the average fiber length. Crystallinity affects the tensile strength and modulus positively. The tensile strength and modulus increase with increasing crystallinity.