A polymer’s molecular weight distribution (MWD) has an impact on its properties – from processability to changes in the phase behavior of block polymers. Dispersity is the most common measure of MWD and provides information on the relative breadth of molecular weights in a sample; however, dispersity is not a thorough description of the distribution. On this basis, our group investigates the influence of the MWD skew on polymer properties. This presentation will detail the development of a modular synthetic strategy that provides deterministic control over the Mn, breadth, and skew of a polymer's MWD and will examine the influence of MWD shape on polymer properties. Specifically, the influence of skew on polymer processability and diblock copolymer phase behavior will be discussed.

Using the higher moments of a polymer’s molecular weight distribution to tune properties

256th National Meeting (2018)

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