Soft Materials Initiative Seminar

Abstract: Modern polymer synthesis enables the precise incorporation of chemically associative groups into a wide range of polymer chemistries. Associative interactions mediated by hydrogen bonds, pi-pi bonds, metal ligand coordination. and covalent-adaptive chemistries can form supramolecular structures that dramatically alter the thermomechanics, viscoelasticity, and adhesive properties of polymer materials. Here, I share work developing coarse-grained molecular dynamics models that bridge these scales and apply them to study how precisely coordinated associative bonds alter the nonlinear mechanics of 3D-printable thermoplastic elastomers. This interactive talk for students and faculty will be followed by networking and refreshments.