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Xiaoyu Cui Master Thesis.pdf (3.55 MB)

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POLYCATION REINFORCED SULFONATED SYDIOTACTIC POLYSTYRENE GELS & SELF-HEALING LATEX CONTAINING POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYERS

Cui, Xiaoyu
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1495204173832965

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science in Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Polymer Engineering.
Syndiotactic polystyrene(sPS) thermo-reversible gels can be obtained by heating sPS/solvent mixture until formation of a homogeneous solution occurs, which is then cooled down to room temperature. The chemical inertness of sPS due to its aromatic hydrocarbon structures and crystalline form can limits its use. The introduction of functional polar groups may overcome this limitation and make it possible to functionalize post synthesis. The first study focuses on 1) the synthesis of polyanion gels: sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene gels, (ssPS gels); 2) the formation of polycation (poly(ethylene imine), BPEI) reinforced ssPS gels. sPS was first functionalized by sulfonation to introduce the sulfonic acid groups to the non-polar polystyrene backbone. The degree of sulfonation was measured by titration process. The successful sulfonation of sPS was confirmed by FT-IR and the thermal properties of ssPS was characterized by DSC. The polar sulfonated acid groups formed ionic domains that dispersed uniformly in ssPS gels. Several possibilities can be realized by this functional outreach. In this study, polycation was introduced to reinforced the ssPS gels. Two blending methods were used. The first method was to dissolve ssPS in BPEI/THF solution to form gels. The second one was to immerse ssPS gels in BPEI/THF solution to diffuse BPEI into ssPS gels. These two different methods led to different properties of ssPS gels. The thermal and mechanical properties were investigated by DSC and rheometry. The second study focuses on the self-healing latex coatings. Self-healing or self-renewing surfaces present the possibility of extending materials lifetimes or preserving the underlying surface such as protecting a building from corrosion. Self-healing coatings would have the benefit of protecting the coated material or building as well as being able to last longer before reapplication than ordinary coatings. In this study, self-healing ability of layer-by-layer films of branched poly(ethylene imine) (BPEI)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) with the inclusion of various types of latex particles with different ratios of hydrophilic groups was investigated. Due to high mobility of the polyelectrolyte chains, the water enabled self-healing ability was induced to the coating systems. The films incorporated with various latex particles showed different swelling ratios, surface hydrophilicity as well as the ability to self-heal scratches. Also, the mechanical properties such as hardness and modulus were improved a lot than bare layer-by-layer BPEI/PAA films.
Nicole Zacharia (Advisor)
Mark Soucek (Committee Chair)
Yu Zhu (Committee Member)
78 p.
Polymers

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Citations

  • Cui, X. (2017). POLYCATION REINFORCED SULFONATED SYDIOTACTIC POLYSTYRENE GELS & SELF-HEALING LATEX CONTAINING POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYERS [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1495204173832965

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cui, Xiaoyu. POLYCATION REINFORCED SULFONATED SYDIOTACTIC POLYSTYRENE GELS & SELF-HEALING LATEX CONTAINING POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYERS . 2017. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1495204173832965.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cui, Xiaoyu. "POLYCATION REINFORCED SULFONATED SYDIOTACTIC POLYSTYRENE GELS & SELF-HEALING LATEX CONTAINING POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYERS ." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1495204173832965

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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