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Properties and Structures of Sulfonated Syndiotactic Polystyrene Aerogel and Syndiotactic Polystyrene/Silica Hybrid Aerogel

Zhang, Huan
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1405298489

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science in Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Polymer Engineering.
This study focuses on hybrid aerogels of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and silica where silica concentration is varied and silica condensation conditions are varied to produce various mesoporous materials. In addition, the study investigates hybrid materials obtained by coating sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene on a cellulose filter paper. In first part of this study, syndiotactic polystyrene is modified by sulfonation to enable further chemical modifications. Specifically, sulfonated syndiotactic polystyrene (ssPS) is coated on macroporous cellulose filter paper using a dip coating process, ssPS is turned into gel by thermoreversible gelation, and finally aniline is polymerized on ssPS strands to obtain a hybrid aerogel with electrical conductivity. The aerogels are recoved by removing the solvents under supercritical conditions. The ssPS aerogels are coated on cellulose filter materials to derive two benefits: first, to capitalize on the large surface area of ssPS aerogels and second, to exploit the mechanical strength of the cellulose filter. In second part of this study, silane precursor is absorbed inside the macropores of sPS gels and silica gels are grown under both a two-step reaction and a one-step reaction. Type A silica aerogel is synthesized by acid-base catalyzed sol-gel method, while type B silica aerogel is prepared only by acid catalyzed sol-gel process. Type A silica gels exhibit pearl-necklace structure, while type B silica gels are composed of strand-like silica particles. In the process, the mesoporous hydrophilic silica particles are combined with macro- and microporous hydrophobic sPS in single articles. This unique combination of organic and inorganic materials and their associated surface area and surface energy offer a number of attractive properties. The sPS/silica hybrid aerogels are fabricated from different concentrations of sPS in solution and from different weight ratio of sPS to silica. The sPS/silica hybrid aerogels exhibit predominant pores located in the mesopore range (2~50 nm), and at higher silica content, silica particles undergo more aggregation as evident from larger fractions mesopore size (~15 nm). In contrast to native sPS aerogel, the compressive modulus of hybrid aerogel is increased up to 100%. In addition, the hybrid aerogels present specific surface area as high as 693 m2/g, high porosity, fast absorption and high absorption capacity of crude oil. Type A hybrid aerogels are composed of both fiber-like strands of sPS and pearl-necklace particles of silica. At low weight ratio of sPS to silica, the silica forms aggregates on sPS backbones as conformal coating. At higher weight ratio of sPS to silica, the silica particles not only coated on the polymer backbones, but also filled the macropores of sPS. Type B hybrid aerogels present fiber-like interpenetrating networks formed by sPS strands of 50-100 nm and silica strand of 200 nm.
Sadhan C Jana, Dr. (Advisor)
Nicole Zacharia, Dr. (Committee Member)
Bryan Vogt, Dr. (Committee Member)
77 p.
Polymer Chemistry; Polymers
syndiotactic polystyrene aerogel, silica aerogel, sulfonation, hybrid

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zhang, H. (2014). Properties and Structures of Sulfonated Syndiotactic Polystyrene Aerogel and Syndiotactic Polystyrene/Silica Hybrid Aerogel [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1405298489

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zhang, Huan. Properties and Structures of Sulfonated Syndiotactic Polystyrene Aerogel and Syndiotactic Polystyrene/Silica Hybrid Aerogel . 2014. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1405298489.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zhang, Huan. "Properties and Structures of Sulfonated Syndiotactic Polystyrene Aerogel and Syndiotactic Polystyrene/Silica Hybrid Aerogel ." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1405298489

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.
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