Nonequilibrium morphologies of random block copolymers processed by solvent evaporation

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Title Nonequilibrium morphologies of random block copolymers processed by solvent evaporation
Publication Type thesis
School or College College of Engineering
Department Materials Science & Engineering
Author Hambrecht, Keith Richard
Date 2011-08
Description This thesis describes the investigation of solvent evaporation processing of random block copolymers and its effects on morphology. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed on a coarse-grained bead spring model of a generic random block copolymer. A standard Lennard-Jones nonbonded potential and a finitely extensible nonlinear elastic (FENE) bonded potential were used. The model was first characterized without the use of solvent processing by ‘quenching' the polymer. The Lennard-Jones well depth, ?, was increased for one monomer to produce a block copolymer with blocks of different glass transition temperatures. A co-solvent was then added and the evaporation process was carried out by randomly removing solvent particles from the simulation box. The effect of the solvent evaporation process on morphology was investigated and compared to the quenched polymer. Effect of the strength of solvent, evaporation rate, and Lennard-Jones well depth were all looked at. It was concluded that quenching of random block copolymer melts under conditions where one of the blocks is glassy leads to a kinetically arrested morphology. This morphology has a smaller domain size and more extended chain conformation than the morphology when both blocks are nonglassy. Solvent evaporation processing, however, reduces these effects and produces a larger domain size.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Block copolymer; FENE; Molecular dynamics; Polymer membrane; Solvent evaporation
Dissertation Institution University of Utah
Dissertation Name Master of Science
Language eng
Rights Management Copyright © Keith Richard Hambrecht 2011
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
Format Extent 1,013,841 bytes
Identifier us-etd3,40211
Source Original housed in Marriott Library Special Collections, QD3.5 2011 .H36
ARK ark:/87278/s6br96wr
Setname ir_etd
ID 194338
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6br96wr
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