Accession Number:

ADA361070

Title:

Towards the Molecular Design of Composite Materials

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Mar 91-28 Feb 94

Corporate Author:

CHICAGO UNIV IL JAMES FRANCK INST

Personal Author(s):

• Freed, Karl F.

Report Date:

1998-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

5.0

Abstract:

We have extended in several ways the lattice cluster theory for the statistical thermodynamics of polymer systems. In addition to the previous treatments of the influence of monomer molecular structures, pressure, and non-random mixing, the new extensions consider the phase diagrams, the structural properties evidenced by small angle neutron scattering, the behavior of block copolymer systems, the stabilization of binary polymer blends by diblock copolymers, and the range of validity for mean field theories of polymer blends. Besides enabling the explanation of detailed, previously perplexing experimental data, the theory has been used to provide predictions, subsequently verified, concerning the pressure dependence of polymer properties and the possibility for ordering in block copolymers upon heating.

Descriptors:

• *POLYMERS
• *COMPOSITE MATERIALS
• THERMODYNAMICS
• BLOCK COPOLYMERS
• POLYSTYRENE
• MONOMERS
• MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
• LATTICE DYNAMICS

Subject Categories:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Laminates and Composite Materials

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE