Ultrastructure Processing of Macromolecular Materials

The research has concurrently involved several areas of investigation in the physical chemistry of macromolecules. A major theme has been the study of the properties of polymer blends. Experimentally we have investigated the effects of microstructure on miscibility in a number of model systems by thermal, mechanical and varied novel spectroscopic techniques, and have also gained a wide understanding of the fundamental basis of the metastable miscibility found in an unexpectedly large number of high temperature systems, i.e. these typically involving polyimides or related materials with high Tgs. In complementary investigation we have performed computer simulation studies of the equilibrium behavior of various blends and under several relevant constraints. The work also investigated dynamic aspects, particularly phase separation at differing effective quench depths. Another line of investigation has concerned itself with electro-optically active conjugated polymers, principally polyp-phenylene vinylene and its derivatives, modifications and blends. Certain solution properties of polymer systems have also been studied. We have done measurements to investigate translational diffusion of solvated polymers in porous media and other properties of polar and non-polar macromolecules.