Jung O. Park

Fibers from polypropylene/nano carbon fiber composites

Fibers from polypropylene and polypropylene/vapor grown nano carbon fiber composite have been spun using conventional melt spinning equipment. At 5 wt% nano carbon fiber loading, modulus and compressive strength of polypropylene increased by 50 and 100%, respectively, and the nano carbon fibers exhibited good dispersion in the polypropylene matrix as observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Solvent Evaporation Induced Liquid Crystalline Phase in Poly(3-hexylthiophene)

We report on the evolution of the chain orientation of a representative π-conjugated polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), during the solution-casting process, as monitored using polarized Raman spectroscopy. These measurements point to the formation of a liquid-crystalline phase of P3HT solutions within a specific time period during solvent evaporation, which leads to a conducting channel. These conclusions are based on the angular dependence of polarized Raman scattering peaks, the anisotropy in the fluorescence background signal, analysis of the scattering-peak shape, and direct observations of the three-phase contact line in an optical microscope under crossed polarizers. These results shed new light on the evolution of chain alignment and thus materials nanostructure, specifically in solution-processed P3HT and more generally in π-conjugated systems. They may further enable the design of improved materials and processes for this important class of polymers.

Control of Polymer Structures in Phase-Separated Liquid Crystal-Polymer Composite Systems

The formation of different structures in phase-separated composite films (PSCOFs) from formulations of liquid crystals and photocurable monomers has been investigated using polarizing optical and scanning electron microscopies. Two processes, spatially nonuniform polymerization and diffusion of small molecules, play important roles in determining a specific PSCOF polymer structure. The variations in UV irradiation intensity and temperature, at which phase separation is carried out, strongly influence these two processes and can change the resultant structure from a homogeneous PSCOF bilayer structure to a heterogeneous polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) structure. A variation in cell thickness changes the distance through which small molecules have to diffuse during phase separation and, thus, affects the structure obtained in thick and thin cells.

INVESTIGATIONS AND MIMICRY OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF BUTTERFLY WINGS

Structural color in Nature has been observed in plants, insects and birds, and has led to a strong interest in these phenomena and a desire to understand the mechanisms responsible. Of particular interest are the optical properties of butterflies. In this paper, we review three investigations inspired by the unique optical properties exhibited in a variety of butterfly wings. In the first investigation, conformal atomic layer depositions (ALDs) were used to exploit biologically defined 2D photonic crystal (PC) templates of Papilio blumei with the purpose of increasing the understanding of the optical effects of naturally formed dielectric architectures, and of exploring any novel optical effects. In the second study, it was demonstrated that faithful mimicry of Papilio palinurus can be achieved by physical fabrication methods through using breath figures to provide templates and ALD routines to enable optical properties. Finally, knowledge of the optical structure properties of the Princeps nireus butterfly has resulted in bioinspired designs to enhanced scintillator designs for radiation detection.

Stereocomplex PMMA Fibers

We have utilized the fact that syndiotactic and isotactic Poly(methyl methacrylate) {PMMA} form a stereocomplex to spin semi-crystalline PMMA fibers. Our goal is to produce oriented semi-crystalline fibers with a high enough melting point to withstand atactic-PMMA processing conditions. We successfully developed stereocomplex PMMA fibers by wet spinning and gel spinning, and characterized their properties by means of differential scanning calorimetry, optical/electron microscopy, mechanical testing and X-ray crystallography. Stereocomplex fibers from gel spinning have highest melting points and polymer chain orientation, hence are the best reinforcing agents. We are currently working on producing self-reinforced composites using these fibers.