<b>Abstract</b><br/>The limited barrier properties of polymeric films have led to the development of polymer composites made up of polymer matrix doped with impermeable particles. The polymer composite with embedded impermeable non-spherical fillers creates long tortuous paths for diffusion and hence has shown to decrease the diffusivity by several degrees as compared to the pure membranes [1]. The properties of such composites depend on a number of factors such as the uniform dispersion of the fillers, filler aspect ratio, loading and orientation within the polymer matrix. The effect of these factors has been widely studied using experiments, models and simulations. While factors like filler loading and filler aspect ratio (size and geometry) are well controlled in the experimental studies, factors like orientation distribution of the particles and dispersion which are dependent on the process conditions of mixing, polymerization, and stability of suspensions are not well controlled. As a result, the understanding of the influence of particle orientation on the permeability of the membrane is still lacking. There has been no experimental study so far where the permeability of a suspension of thin-disk particles with well-defined orientation been verified with models. In this work, we will be interested in tuning the orientation of thin disk particles of different sizes and aspect ratios with the help of an external magnetic field [2]. We plan to coat the thin disk particles with superparamagnetic particles. The coated thin disk particles will then be homogeneously mixed with the polymer matrix. The homogeneous suspension of coated thin disk particles will then be oriented using the external magnetic field. The orientation distribution and the position of the particles in the membrane will be experimentally correlated with the permeability of the membrane.<br/>

Controlling barrier properties of composites using nonspherical particles

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.