7.3 On Demand, Rapid, and Tunable Curing of Thermoset Polymers using the Photothermal Effect of Nanoparticles
Abstract
The proposed work seeks to explore the utility of the photothermal effect for accomplishing constrnctive chemical reactions in polymeric systems. The proposal is specifically focused on exploring the on-demand, rapid, and tunable curing ofthermoset polymers which has the potential to impact a wide variety of civil and military applications ranging from protective coatings to wound-dressings, cell phones, and strnctural elements. Recently, the PI demonstrated that the photothermal effect of gold nanoparticles could be used to drive constructive reactions, such as bond formation, resulting in rapid, on-demand curing of polyurethane on bulk scale. With this effort, the PI seeks to explore the mechanisms of this photothemml curing as well as the general applicability of this approach to other polymer systems. More specifically, using small molecule models of urethanes and linear as well as crosslinked polyurethane systems, the PI will identify any side reactions that occur under photothermal conditions, and will probe their impact upon the mechanisms of polymerization. A suite of analytical techniques will be employed to follow the products of these reactions including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy (MS), and gas chromatography (GC). The small molecule experiments will also be modeled via a collaborator in the university s Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Additionally, this effort will examine the applicability of the photothermal effect to other them10set polymers such as epoxy resins, polysiloxanes, polyisocyanurates, and other polyurethanes. These target polymer systems will allow for probing the breadth of polymer systems that can be photothermally cured, as they encompass a wide range of uses, kinetic parameters, them10dynamic parameters, cross-linking approaches, and final physical properties. IR spectroscopy will be employed to determine the rate of curing for each polymer system and swelling/gel fraction measurements will be used to characterize the degree of cross-linking. To characterize the chemical and physical properties, a number of techniques will be employed including matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), IR, Inistron machines to measure tensile strength/modulus of elasticity, and differential scanning calorimetry to study the polymers phase transitions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610123
Entities
People
- Benjamin J. Lear
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Pennsylvania State University
- United States Army