TUNING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS BY INTRAMOLECULAR CROSS-LINKING

The thermomechanical response of a solid polymer is a function of the forces between the polymer chains, which, above the entanglement limit, depends almost exclusively on the monomer chemistry. In this research, we exploit intramolecular cross-links to physically limit entanglement between chains and tune the thermomechanical properties independently of the monomer chemistry. We use a chemical approach to tune the individual properties of the intramolecular cross-linked polymers, commonly known as single-chain polymer nanoparticles (SCPNs), and then test the effect each molecular property, such as molecular weight, cross-link density and shape has on the bulk material properties. This project expands the possibilities in bottom-up materials design, in which the architecture of the polymer chains on the nanoscale is specifically tailored towards desired final material properties. This research will lead to a better understanding of how polymer architecture, in addition to chemistry, affects the form and entanglement of chains, and therefore solid-state bulk thermomechanical properties.