Scientific project
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A polymer network is formed of a material whose pore size is determined by the composition of the starting materials and the method of preparation. The immersion of polymer networks of samples in a solvent gives gels. The systematic study of the swelling of a network depends on parameters such as the composition, temperature, pH and the nature of the solvent.
The degree of crosslinking, the functionality of junction zones, the spatial distribution of connections of nodes control the network training.
These polymer networks may find applications in composites, such as "PDLC" (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal) used for their varying opacity property (1) where the influence of energy (light, electric) generates change in opacity of the material. The swelling properties and deflation can be exploited in the production of artificial muscles (2).
Work undertaken therefore to characterize the swelling in isotropic solvents different networks of crosslinked polymers based systems (ethylhexyl acrylate, n-butyl, Hexyléthylmétacrylate, Styrene, ...) and for different crosslinking agents (HDDA, TPGDA, ....) and variable contents. These networks are prepared by photo-polymerization in the presence of a UV photoinitiator (Darocur, Lucirin, ...). The variation in the cross-linking agent content determines the porosity and elasticity of the network.
Bilan 2011-2015