Functionalized multilayer thin films for protection against acutely toxic agents

The recently developed practice of spraying polyelectrolyte solutions onto a substrate in order to construct thin films via the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique has been further investigated and extended. In this process a fully automated system capable of depositing thin polymer films from atomized mists of solutions containing species of complementary functionality has been created. The versatility of the spray-assisted LbL (Spray-LbL) technology is demonstrated by depositing both weak and strong polyelectrolyte films, hydrogen bonded films, dendritic compounds and nanoparticles, broadening its range of future applications. This platform technology is then applied to generate three novel electrostatically assembled coatings for protection against a range of acutely toxic chemicals, including several chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial compounds. First, Spray-LbL is used to deposit colloidally stable titanium dioxide nanoparticles versus several traditional synthetic polycations. The resulting coatings are mechanically stable and offer selective protection when the wearer is exposed to UV radiation (e.g.sunlight); whereas the inherent water transmissive nature of the multilayers allows for much greater water vapor transport rates as compared to an inert rubber barrier material. Second, the physics of sprayed deposition are investigated to generate metal-ion doped polymeric coatings which are shown to be effective treatments for air filtration, functionalizing existing filters with the ability to strongly bind toxic industrial compounds such as ammonia or cyanide gases, as well as chemical warfare agent simulants such as chloroethyl ethyl sulfide.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Krogman, Kevin Christopher

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Paula T. Hammond.

• Chemical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

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

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/51620

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/51620