New Polymers for Structural Applications
Carbonanotubes decorated with Polystyrene
At GKSS polymer synthesis capabilities are expanded to controlled polymerization techniques. The recently commissioned laboratories for monomer preparation and various controlled polymerization techniques will provide a state of the art workspace for the preparation of block copolymers of various compositions and topologies. The aim of their synthesis is the generation of novel multifunctional materials. These materials may be employed in various fields, ranging from biomedical applications to the area of light-weight structural materials. To achieve these aims, systematic research on structure-properties-relationships as well as on polymer processing is carried out.
Blocks of different properties (e. g. hydrophilic, hydrophobic, anti-bacterial, electronic or photonic) are combined in different topologies (e. g. linear, graft, star, highly-branched) resulting in multifunctional materials. Their microphase behaviour in solution, in bulk, and in blends is determined by microscopy and scattering techniques whereas their mechanical properties are analyzed employing stress-stain and shear measurements.
The block copolymer"s potential as an intermediate to blends of incompatible constituents also is explored. For example, the copolymer may serve as intermediate itself or it may be grafted on a reinforcing polymer to improve its compatibility with matrix materials. Besides bulk materials also foams and (nano)fibres of the block copolymers are investigated (in collaboration with "Nanofibres for Medical and Technical Applications"). Here, the stresses imposed on block copolymers during processing should lead to an alignment of the morphology, which may lead to an improvement of the mechanical properties (modulus, energy uptake till the break point). Besides synthesis and processing the morphological and mechanical characterization of the resulting materials is also crucial for success.
Also the joining of polymeric and metallic light-weight materials is an important issue (see research area "Process Modelling" and "Joining Technology"). In collaboration with the Topic "Light-Weight Structural Materials" polymer based coatings of Mg-alloys are developed. Here special focus is set on good adhesion between polymer and metal, or polymer and stable metal oxide layer. The polymer should have no permeability for aggresive components and may contain anticorrosion agents.. On the long term such coated metals should also be joined with the polymer based light-weight materials mentioned above.
The block copolymer"s potential as an intermediate to blends of incompatible constituents also is explored. For example, the copolymer may serve as intermediate itself or it may be grafted on a reinforcing polymer to improve its compatibility with matrix materials. Besides bulk materials also foams and (nano)fibres of the block copolymers are investigated (in collaboration with "Nanofibres for Medical and Technical Applications"). Here, the stresses imposed on block copolymers during processing should lead to an alignment of the morphology, which may lead to an improvement of the mechanical properties (modulus, energy uptake till the break point). Besides synthesis and processing the morphological and mechanical characterization of the resulting materials is also crucial for success.
Also the joining of polymeric and metallic light-weight materials is an important issue (see research area "Process Modelling" and "Joining Technology"). In collaboration with the Topic "Light-Weight Structural Materials" polymer based coatings of Mg-alloys are developed. Here special focus is set on good adhesion between polymer and metal, or polymer and stable metal oxide layer. The polymer should have no permeability for aggresive components and may contain anticorrosion agents.. On the long term such coated metals should also be joined with the polymer based light-weight materials mentioned above.
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