Polymer infiltration into the voids of nanoparticle assemblies has become a unique way to make polymer nanocomposites which show remarkable enhancement in mechanical and heat transfer properties due to a high loading of nanoparticles and large interfacial contact between the nanoparticle and the polymer. Previously, solvent based and thermal routes have been used to induce motion of polymer from a glassy film into the nanoparticle packing. Leaching-enabled capillary rise infiltration (LeCaRI) is a powerful method to generate composites by inducing leaching of uncross-linked chains from an elastomer network into the pores of a nanoparticle packing at room temperature. A unique feature of this method is the ability to create both self-erasing and permanently patterned microdomains of composites. Laterally graded patterns and features can be fabricated to produce surface structures with laterally graded optical, mechanical and wetting properties that otherwise require intense preparation processes. LeCaRI can be made universal in its applicability by depleting an elastomer of the uncrosslinked chains, loading it with a new polymer, and inducing infiltration. New results on the thermodynamics of loading of polymers with low glass transition temperature into depleted gels will be presented.

Patterned nanocomposite films via leaching-enabled capillary rise infiltration (LeCaRI)

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.