Structural modeling of dynamic polymer networks

Polymer network based gels are an important class of materials with a wide range of applications. Dynamic polymer networks, which crosslink via the formation of reversible bonds, in particular have great potential as stimuli responsive, mechanically tunable, and self-healing materials. Many important emergent properties of these materials, such as mechanical strength, are mediated by their underlying network structure, which can be characterized by the network topology and spatial distribution of nodes. Therefore, unlocking the full potential of these materials through rational design requires an understanding of how network structure arises as a function of network-forming precursor design. Because the bonds that crosslink dynamic polymer networks are reversible, stresses initially present or otherwise induced in these systems can be relieved through network rearrangement. As such, given sufficient time to relax, the network structure is determined by equilibrium thermodynamics.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Alt, Eric Allen.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Adam P. Willard.

• Chemistry.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/122711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/122711