Creating Polloids - A Symthesis of Colloidal Polymer Chains
Open Access
Author:
Michaelis, Charles Allen
Area of Honors:
Chemical Engineering
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Darrell Velegol, Thesis Supervisor Dr. Michael John Janik, Faculty Reader Darrell Velegol, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
colloid polymer chains assemblies
Abstract:
Colloidal particles have been used to study atomic and molecular systems for over a century. Using physically deformed micron-size polystyrene latex particles, chains of colloids were fabricated, taking advantage of electrostatically repulsive surface functionalization and attractive van der Waal forces. These chains, ranging from a few particles to as many as 35 particles, were observed to follow known polymer theory, even showing hyper branched polymer systems. The chains are self-assembling and flexible, and hold promise in fields such as viscoelastic lubricants, biomimetic functional structures, and fluids with enhanced thermal conductivity.
