More about the programme
The influence on the one hand of the polymerisation conditions on the morphology and the topology of the materials, on the other hand the composition and the compatibility of the components on the physical properties of the products will be the ultimate goal in this project. The research project will involve methods of specific polymer synthesis and copolymer synthesis. Block copolymers consisting of blocks with different physical and chemical properties will be prepared and characterised. Copolymers which form nanostructures based on the electrostatic attraction-repulsion between the blocks will be investigated. Advanced spectroscopic, scattering and colorimatric methods will be used in the characterisation. A very important part of the project is the modelling and the development of theory. This work will involve atomistic modelling, molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics and stochastic methods to determine the conformational mobility of single chains and assemblies of chains. The theory of relaxation in polymer brushes, oriented polymers and in polymer networks will be developed. New computer codes for parallel computers will be worked out since the group has access to powerful parallel computers in the United Kingdom and in Finland.
