Interdiffusion phenomena at partially miscible polymer interfaces

Thumbnail Image
Date
2002-01-01
Authors
Jablonski, Erin
Major Professor
Advisor
Balaji Narasimhan
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Altmetrics
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Organizational Unit
Chemical and Biological Engineering

The function of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has been to prepare students for the study and application of chemistry in industry. This focus has included preparation for employment in various industries as well as the development, design, and operation of equipment and processes within industry.Through the CBE Department, Iowa State University is nationally recognized for its initiatives in bioinformatics, biomaterials, bioproducts, metabolic/tissue engineering, multiphase computational fluid dynamics, advanced polymeric materials and nanostructured materials.

History
The Department of Chemical Engineering was founded in 1913 under the Department of Physics and Illuminating Engineering. From 1915 to 1931 it was jointly administered by the Divisions of Industrial Science and Engineering, and from 1931 onward it has been under the Division/College of Engineering. In 1928 it merged with Mining Engineering, and from 1973–1979 it merged with Nuclear Engineering. It became Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2005.

Dates of Existence
1913 - present

Historical Names

  • Department of Chemical Engineering (1913–1928)
  • Department of Chemical and Mining Engineering (1928–1957)
  • Department of Chemical Engineering (1957–1973, 1979–2005)
    • Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (2005–present)

    Related Units

Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Abstract

This research is focused on understanding the effect of miscibility on interdiffusion phenomena in bilayers of polystyrene (PS) and the statistically random copolymer, poly (styrene-r-4-bromostyrene) (PBS). Miscibility in such systems can be quantified by N*chi, where N* is an effective degree of polymerization and chi the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter. In the PS/PBS system, miscibility decreases as N *chi increases. The extent of interdiffusion at a bilayer interface is ultimately determined by the miscibility of the system. A description of the effect of miscibility on interdiffusion phenomena, interfacial width, phase behavior, and fracture energy and a relationship between these properties has not been elucidated, thus limiting optimal design of polymer interfaces for technologically relevant applications. This work highlights the effect of miscibility on interdiffusion dynamics and interfacial behavior, employing both experimental and modeling tools.;Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) was used to quantify interdiffusion in the PS/PBS bilayers. PBS volume fraction versus depth profiles were obtained from the evolution of the bromine peak in the RBS spectra of these bilayers as a function of annealing time. From these profiles, mutual diffusion coefficients were calculated. In miscible PS/PBS systems, interdiffusion of the bilayers results in a single layer of constant composition. In bilayers with PS and PBS having a disparity in N, the interface is observed to move toward the faster diffusing (lower N) component, in agreement with the fast-mode theory of mobility. In partially miscible PS/PBS layers, interdiffusion is observed to occur until binodal conditions that agree with predicted phase diagrams are reached.;Interfacial widths (wi) in PS/PBS bilayers were measured with X-ray reflectivity (XR) and are in qualitative agreement with the results of RBS. It was observed in miscible systems that features corresponding to a bilayer configuration disappeared after short diffusion times, indicating complete interdiffusion, while partially miscible and immiscible systems retained bilayers features for even the longest annealing times, indicating interdiffusion to binodal conditions or minimal interdiffusion, respectively. Implications of the miscibility dependence of the mutual diffusion coefficient and interfacial width are discussed both in the context of theoretical arguments as well as for strengthening partially miscible polymer interfaces.

Comments
Description
Keywords
Citation
Source
Copyright
Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2002