The relationship between polymer chain architecture, crystallization behavior, and morphology formation was investigated. The structures formed are highly dependent on chain configuration and crystallization kinetics. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) random copolymers were studied. Sample characterization was performed using a variety of techniques, including spectroscopy, scattering, and calorimetry. In PLA, structural differences between α’ and α crystalline phases were analyzed using cryogenic infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Compared to the  crystal, the ’ crystal has slightly looser packing and weaker intermolecular interactions involving carbonyl and methyl functional groups. Simulations in conjunction with Raman scattering analyzed the conformational distortion of the α’ phase. The conformation of an α’ chain was determined to have tg’t-103 conformation with tg’t-31 units randomly distributed along the chain. Departure of the O-C α dihedral angle was also confirmed. The structural disorder leads to different thermal properties for α’ and α crystalline forms, which was quantified by measuring the enthalpic change at melting for both crystals ( = 57 ± 3 J/g and =9 6 ± 3 J/g). The transformation from α’ to α and the mechanism of order formation in PLA were also elucidated. The relationship between chain configuration of EVA random copolymers and crystallization behavior was established. For three different EVA samples, the distribution of methylene sequences was calculated and compared to a distribution of crystallite sizes formed. This comparison revealed that only a small fraction of the total methylene segments present actually crystallized. Cocrystallization with highly mobile oligomers was explored to enhance the crystallization of EVA copolymers. When blended, EVA28 (28 weight percentage) cocrystallizes with C36H74 n-alkane resulting in faster crystallization kinetics and a higher degree of crystallinity. The observed increase in degree of crystallinity was directly related to the chain configuration. Compositional mapping using Raman spectroscopy provided evidence for oligomer nucleation. The cocrystallization kinetics and morphology of EVA and n-alkane blends was found to depend on the chain length of oligomer. In both systems studied, crystallization kinetics determines the morphologies formed, which are undoubtedly related to the details of molecular architecture.

No description available.

No description available.

Degradable low-fouling hydrogels are ideal vehicles for drug and cell delivery. For each application, hydrogel degradation rate must be re-optimized for maximum therapeutic benefit. We developed a method to rapidly tune degradation rates of low-fouling poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate) (P(EG)xMA) hydrogels by modifying two interdependent variables: (1) base-catalyzed crosslink degradation kinetics, dependent on crosslinker electronics (electron withdrawing groups (EWGs)); and (2) polymer hydration, dependent on the molecular weight (MW) of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) pendant groups. By controlling EWG strength and PEG pendant group MW, P(EG)xMA hydrogels were tuned to degrade over 6 to 52 d. A six-member P(EG)xMA copolymer library yielded slow and fast degrading low-fouling hydrogels for short- and long-term delivery applications. The degradation mechanism was also applied to RGD-functionalized poly(carboxybetaine methacrylamide) (PCBMAA) hydrogels to achieve slow (52 d) and fast (13 d) degrading low-fouling, bioactive hydrogels. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / The delivery of drugs and cells to disease sites is hindered by transport barriers, which can be overcome through local delivery. Injectable hydrogels can serve as local depots that release drugs or cells to improve therapeutic benefit. Currently, however, hydrogels suffer from uncontrolled degradation in the body, degrading at unpredictable rates dependent on the local environment; hydrogels with predictable and tunable degradation rates are therefore required. Herein, we report a method to produce a library of polymers that in situ crosslink to form hydrogels with a range of degradation rates only influenced by the local environments pH, a known quantity. Moreover, the polymers are low-fouling and therefore have minimal non-specific interactions with biomolecules and cells, which improves biocompatibility.

The purity of the disulfonated monomer, such as 3,3"-disulfonated-4,4"-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (SDCDPS), was very important for obtaining high molecular weight copolymers and accurate control of the oligomer's molecular weight. A novel method to characterize the purity of disulfonated monomer, SDCDPS, was developed by using UV-visible spectroscopy. This allowed for utiliziation of the crude SDCDPS directly in the copolymerization to save money, energy, and time. Three series of tert-butylphenyl terminated disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) copolymers (BPSH35, 6FSH35, and 6FSH48) with controlled molecular weightsï¼ Mnï¼ , 20 to 50 kg·mol-1, were successfully prepared by the direct copolymerization method. The molecular weight of the copolymer was controlled by a monofunctional monomer tert-butylphenyl, and characterized by the combination of 1H NMR spectra and modified intrinsic viscosity measurements in NMP with 0.05 M LiBr, which was added to suppress the polyelectrolyte effect. The mechanical properties of the membranes, such as the modulus, strength and elongation at break, were improved by increasing the molecular weights, but water uptake and proton conductivities found insensitive to copolymers" molecular weights. Three series of disulfonated poly(arylene ether ketone) random copolymers have been synthesized and comparatively studied, according to their different chemical structures, for use as proton exchange membranes. The copolymers containing more flexible molecular structures had higher water uptake and proton conductivity than the rigid structures at the same ion exchange capacity. This may be due to the more flexible chemical structures being able to form better phase separated morphology and higher hydration levels. A new hydrophobic-hydrophilic multiblock copolymer has been successfully synthesized based on the careful coupling of a fluorine terminated poly(arylene ether ketone) (6FK) hydrophobic oligomer and a phenoxide terminated disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BPSH) hydrophilic oligomer. AFM images and the water diffusion coefficient results confirmed that the multiblock copolymer formed better proton transport channels. This multiblock copolymer showed comparable proton conductivity and fuel cell performance to the Nafion® control and had much better proton transport properties than random ketone copolymers under partially hydrated conditions. This suggested that the multiblock copolymers are promising candidates for proton exchange membranes especially for applications at high temperatures and low relative humidity. / Ph. D.

The objectives of this research were to study the gas transport properties of proton exchange membranes (PEM), namely disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BPSH-35), post sulfonated diels-alder poly(phenylene) (SDAPP), and poly(perfluoro sulfonic acid) (Nafion). The O2 gas permeabilities were found to be lower in BPSH and SDAPP as compared to poly(perfluoro sulfonic acid) because of difference in Tg (TgBSPH= 250 oC, TgSDAPP= 330 oC versus TgNafion=150 oC). Higher Tg polymers have a more rigid, inflexible polymer segments causing a reduction in gas permeability. In comparison to SDAPP, BPSH has a lower O2 gas permeability because of the bulky side groups in the SDAPP backbone. O2 sorption measurements were carried out both under non-humidified and humidified conditions as a function of relative humidity and temperature at a normal PEM operating pressure of 1 atm. Under non-humidified conditions, BPSH, SDAPP, and Nafion 112 exhibited Henry's Law sorption, consistent with dilute dissolution of O2 into the polymer matrix. The enthalpies of sorption were calculated to determine the interaction of O2 with each membrane. The sorption enthalpies in BPSH and SDAPP increased with increasing pressure indicating the formation of more O2-O2 interactions. The enthalpies in Nafion 112 were relatively constant with increasing pressure. In the presence of moisture, the sorption behavior changed from Henry's Law to Type IV sorption behavior, which is common in hydrophilic polymers. The SDAPP membrane was found to have the highest percent wet O2 mass uptake because of a higher number of sulfonic acid groups interacting with the water/O2 system. Finally the O2 sorption for various porous catalyst powders, consisting of platinum supported on carbon was measured in the non-humidified and humidified state. The catalysts were found to have Knudsen diffusion in the non-humidified state with 20 wt% Pt-C having the largest O2 sorption. In the humidified state, the highest O2 mass uptake was achieved with 40 wt% Pt-C. These results are explained in terms of the trade-off between catalyst dispersion and catalyst size. Furthermore, O2 sorption measurements were utilized for membrane electrode assemblies containing 40 wt% Pt-C and hot pressed at 210 oC for BPSH-35 (25 and 80K) and Nafion 112 membranes. The same sorption behavior occurred in the MEAs as in the neat membrane, but at a lower capacity. This is because the electrode introduces a more tortuous path to the gas molecules permeating across the membrane. / Ph. D.

This thesis is an experimental investigation of the phase behavior, volumetric properties, and viscosity of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and their blends. Homopolymerization and copolymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-methylene-1,3-dioxepane (MDO) in mixtures of acetone + CO2 have also been explored. The viscosities and densities of acetone + CO2 mixtures were measured in the temperature range 323-398 K at pressures up to 35 MPa. This is the first study in which viscosity of acetone + CO2 mixtures have been measured and the mixtures have been evaluated as solvents for PCL. It is shown that PCL can be readily dissolved in these fluid mixtures at modest pressures even at high carbon dioxide levels. Investigations have been conducted over a temperature range from 323 to 398 K at pressures up to 50 MPa for polymer concentrations up to 20 wt %, and CO2 concentrations up to 60 wt %. It is shown that in these mixtures PCL is dissolved at pressures that are much lower than the pressures reported for miscibility in the mixtures of carbon dioxide with other organic solvents. It is shown that PMMA also readily dissolves at modest pressures. Blends of PMMA and PCL require higher pressures than for the individual polymers for complete miscibility. Free-radical polymerizations of MMA in acetone at 343 K were followed using in-situ measurements of viscosity and density at different pressures from 7- 42 MPa. This is the first time viscosity has been used as a real-time probe of high pressure polymerizations. Two distinct kinetic regimes were identified. Homopolymerizations of MDO were conducted in carbon dioxide at 323 and 343 K at pressures up to 42 MPa. For the first time it is shown that high molecular weight PCL can be produced from MDO in high pressure CO2. Ring-opening free-radical copolymerizations of MDO with MMA, styrene and acrylonitrile were conducted for the first time in carbon dioxide and have been shown to lead to polymers with high molecular weights. / Ph. D.

Polylactide homopolymers with pendent carboxylic acid functional groups have been designed and synthesized to be studied as magnetite nanoparticle dispersion stabilizers. Magnetic nanoparticles are of interest for a variety of biomedical applications including magnetic field-directed drug delivery and magnetic cell separations. Small magnetite nanoparticles are desirable due to their established biocompatibility and superparamagnetic (lack of magnetic hysteresis) behavior. For in-vivo applications, it is important that the magnetic material be coated with biocompatible organic materials to afford dispersion characteristics or to further modify the surfaces of the complexes with biospecific moieties. The acid-functionalized silane endgroup was utilized as the dispersant anchor to adsorb onto magnetite nanoparticle surfaces and allowed the polylactide to extend into various solvents to impart dispersion stability. The homopolymers were complexed with magnetite nanoparticles by electrostatic adsorption of the carboxylates onto the iron oxide surfaces, and these complexes were dispersible in dichloromethane. The polylactide tailblocks extended into the dichloromethane and provided steric repulsion between the magnetite-polymer complexes. The resultant magnetite-polymer complexes were further incorporated into controlled-size nanospheres. The complexes were blended with poly(ethylene oxide-b-D,L-lactide) diblock copolymers to introduce hydrophilicity on the surface of the nanospheres with tailored functionality. Self-assembly of the PEO block to the surface of the nanosphere was established by utilizing an amine terminus on the PEO to react with FITC and noting fluorescence. / Ph. D.

Commercially available 4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS) was successfully disulfonated with fuming sulfuric acid to yield 3,3′-disodiumsulfonyl-4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (SDCDPS). Subsequently, DCDPS and SDCDPS were systematically reacted with 4,4′-biphenol under nucleophilic step polymerization conditions to generate a series of high molecular weight, film-forming, ductile, ion conducting copolymers. These were converted to the acid form and investigated as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Hydrophilicity increased with the level of sulfonation. However, water sorption increased gradually until about 50 mole percent SDCDPS was incorporated, and thereafter showed a large increase to yield water soluble materials for the 100% SDCDPS system. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that the morphology of the copolymers displayed continuity of the hydrophilic phase at 60 mole percent SDCDPS. Conductivity measurements in the 40-50 mole percent SDCDPS range, where excellent mechanical strength was maintained, produced values of 0.1 S/cm or higher which were comparable to the control, Nafion™. These compositions also show a high degree of compatibility with heteropolyacids such as phosphotungstic acid. These inorganic compounds provide a promising mechanism for obtaining conductivity at temperatures well above the boiling point of water and membrane compositions containing them are being actively pursued. The water soluble 100% SDCDPS system was further investigated by successfully functionalizing the endgroups to afford aromatic amines via appropriate endcapping with m-aminophenol. Oligomers and polymers from 5-30 kg/mole number average molecular weight were synthesized and well characterized by NMR spectroscopy, endgroup titrations and size exclusion chromatography. The diamino-telechelic sulfonated segment was reacted with several dianhydrides and diamines to produce multiblock, hydrophobic polyimide-hydrophilic sulfonated polyarylene ether copolymers. Both ester-acid and amic acid synthesis routes were utilized in combination with spin-casting and bulk imidization. A series of tough, film-forming segmented copolymers was prepared and characterized. AFM measurements demonstrated the generation of quite well defined, nanophase-separated morphologies which were dependent upon composition as well as aging in a humid environment. Characterizations of the segmented copolymers for conductivity, and water and methanol sorption were performed and comparisons to state-of-the-art perfluorinated Nafion™ systems were made. It is concluded that the segmented or block systems have the potential to enhance certain desirable PEM characteristics in fuel cells, particularly those related to swelling, retention of mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, and critical adhesion issues in membrane electrode assemblies. / Ph. D.

Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with dendritic terminal groups were synthesized by step-growth polymerization of two difunctional monomers in the presence of preformed dendritic end-cappers. These polymers were characterized by NMR, SEC, DSC, TGA, melt rheology and tensile tests. The melt viscosities of these polymers in the high frequency region were lower than the control while the stress-strain properties were comparable to those of the control, suggesting that it is possible to reduce the high shear melt viscosities of this type of polymers without affecting the stress-strain properties by introducing bulky dendritic terminal groups. Poly(arylene ether sulfone)s with hyperbranched terminal groups were also synthesized. These polymers were synthesized by reacting fluoro-terminated poly(arylene ether sulfone) chains with an arylene ether ketone AB2 monomer. The terminal groups of these polymers were capped by tert-butylphenol. The results from NMR and SEC showed that multiple tert-butyl units were successfully introduced onto the polymer chains, suggesting that this synthetic method could be useful for introducing multiple functional groups onto the polymer chain ends in fewer synthetic steps than an analogous method using preformed dendritic end-cappers. It was also demonstrated that multiple sulfonated phenols were attached to the terminal groups of polysulfones by this method. A novel cyclohexyl-containing difunctional monomer was prepared and successfully incorporated into poly(arylene ether sulfone) backbones. These polymers were characterized by NMR, SEC, DSC, TGA, DMA and tensile tests and compared to terephthaloyl analogs. Tensile tests and DMA showed the cyclohexyl units impart a higher magnitude of secondary relaxation than the terephthaloyl units while maintaining high modulus, suggesting that these polymers may have higher impact strength than the ones with no cyclohexyl units. / Ph. D.