Date of Award
8-2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Chair
Dr. Sergei Nazarenko
Committee Chair School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 2
Dr. Derek Patton
Committee Member 2 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 3
Dr. James Rawlins
Committee Member 3 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 4
Dr. Xiaodan Gu
Committee Member 4 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Committee Member 5
Dr. Zhe Qiang
Committee Member 5 School
Polymer Science and Engineering
Abstract
Polymeric materials are widely used in separation membranes and thermal management applications, yet improving their mass and heat transport properties remains a notable challenge. This work explores the use of coatings derived from polydopamine to enhance the antifouling properties of oil-water separation membranes. Additionally, the versatile thiol-ene chemistry was employed to fabricate polymer composites with enhanced thermal conductivity and gas separation.
Chapter I provides a comprehensive overview of oil-water emulsions, focusing on their background and separation techniques. It covers various aspects such as the sources of oil-water emulsions, the classification of emulsion types, typical demulsification methods, and the range of technologies employed for separating oil-water emulsions.
Chapter II explores the investigation of surface modification using polydopamine to mitigate inherent oil fouling in poly(vinylidene fluoride) microfiltration membranes. This work aimed to address the unwanted membrane pore blockage by exploring methods to control the morphology of polydopamine deposition on membrane surfaces, with the ultimate objective of minimizing pore blockage and enhancing oil-water separation performance.
Chapter III discusses the thermal transport within polymer composites, focusing on the various classes of thermally conductive fillers and the different techniques for measuring thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the chapter reviews the diverse applications of thermally conductive polymer composites.
Chapter IV delves into the investigation of dopamine surface modification of boron nitride filler to facilitate the decoration of silver nanoparticles on the filler platelets’ surface, aiming to enhance the thermal conductivity of poly(lactic acid) composites by promoting better dispersion and interaction between the filler and the polymer matrix.
In Chapter V, thiol-ene ‘photo-click’ polymerization was described to fabricate thermally conductive polymer composites. This work aimed to evaluate and compare the influence of boron nitride on the thermal conductivity of rubbery versus glassy polymeric networks. Furthermore, the effects of solvent and filler particle size on thermal conductivity are investigated.
Chapter VI provides an overview of the thiol-ene ‘photo-click’ polymerization introduced in Chapter V, aimed at addressing the trade-off between gas selectivity and permeability observed in pure polymeric membranes, along with the challenges posed by the high operational and production costs of inorganic membranes. This chapter centers on the fabrication of zeolite/thiol-ene mixed matrix membranes with enhanced gas separation performance.
Copyright
2024, Moustafa Zagho
Recommended Citation
Zagho, Moustafa M., "Development of Polymeric-based Materials for Enhanced Mass and Heat Transport" (2024). Dissertations. 2293.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/2293