- Title
- Characterization of adsorbed polymer conformational response using spectroscopic ellipsometry
- Creator
- Kim, Sungho; Palomino, Angelica; Podraza, Nikolas
- Date
- 2012
- Type
- Text; Conference paper
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/161535
- Identifier
- vital:12477
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784412121.117
- Abstract
- This study applies a novel technique, multichannel spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE), to characterize adsorbed responsive polymer molecules on simulated clay mineral surfaces representing "tunable" clay-polymer nanocomposites (CPN). SE is a non-destructive, non-invasive, highly accurate technique that has commonly been used to characterize layered materials systems. Predicting conformational behavior of the polymer molecules in CPNs is critical, but not fully understood due to many factors simultaneously affecting the behavior of the clay-polymer system. Since the conformation of responsive polymer molecules varies with external environmental conditions, SE results can be used to predict clay fabric changes due to micro-scale conformational changes of adsorbed polymer molecules. The purpose of this study is to investigate pH- and time-dependent conformational behavior of a responsive polymer on a simulated clay mineral surface and to link the micro-scale conformational variations to the meso-scale swelling potential of tunable CPNs. Using in-situ real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry (RTSE), conformational behavior of the responsive polymer is characterized as functions of pH and time. Low swelling potential measured at pH 3 is likely due to contracted coil conformation of the polymer. On the other hand, high swelling potential measured at pH 11.5 is likely due to extended conformation, and the conformation may be further extended over time.
- Relation
- GeoCongress 2012
- Rights
- © 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- Composite materials; Clays; pH; Minerals; Polymer; Materials characterization
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