Four Students to Present at National ACS, Spring 2009 in Salt Lake City
The Waldow group will have three students (Luke Latimer, Michael Barich, and Kurtis Fairley) present posters and one student (Moriah Zimmerman) present a talk at the Spring 2009 ACS meeting in Salt Lake City. The abstracts are presented below.
ACCEPTED
1) Luke Latimer, to graduate ~5/2011 
Atomic force microscopy of low molecular weight polystyrene / polybutadiene thin film polymer blends with added copolymers
CHED 1010
Luke N. Latimer, latimeln@plu.edu and Dean A. Waldow, waldowda@plu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University, 1010 122nd Street S, Tacoma, WA 98447
Polystyrene (PS) and polybutadiene (PB) blends are essential components of many industrial products. As the nano–realm grows, so does the focus on thin film polymer systems. The morphology of spin-coated low molecular weight PS/PB thin films was explored as a function of film thickness, annealing time, and the amount of added diblock, random, or graft copolymers. This blend system is comparable to previously studied bulk systems. The thickness of PS/PB blends thin films ranged from 11 to 78 nm as generated from 0.5 to 5.0 % (w/w) PS/PB solutions. Films dewet as they age at room temperature, and form islands of increasing thickness, as driven by thermal equilibrium. Greater degrees of film dewetting are commonly observed for the thinnest PS/PB films, suggesting that one or both of the homopolymers retain fluid characteristics. The addition of copolymers to PS/PB blends decreases surface roughening, with the diblock having the greatest effect.
Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
12:00 PM-3:00 PM, Monday, March 23, 2009 Salt Palace Convention Center -- Hall 5, Poster
ACCEPTED
2) Moriah Zimmerman, to graduate 5/2009 
Atomic force microscopy of high molecular weight thin film polymer blends compatibilized with triblock and graft copolymers
POLY 12
E. Moriah Zimmerman, zimmerem@plu.edu and Dean A. Waldow, waldowda@plu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University, 1010 122nd Street S, Tacoma, WA 98447
Thin film polymer blends were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM) with focus on the effect that various triblock and multi-arm graft copolymers have on the surface morphology. Polystyrene and polybutadiene homopolymer blends at critical volume and above their entanglement molecular weights were studied with added copolymer up to 11% (w/w). Two triblock copolymers of different segment molecular weights and three graft copolymers with varying number of arms were used as additives. The samples were spin-coated onto cover slips at a 65 nm thickness. The blend surfaces were analyzed using an Asylum MFP-3D AFM in AC mode. Surface roughness as well as for lateral domain size using Fourier transform techniques were studied for the as-spun thin films. The added copolymers had minimal influence on the surface morphology. Anneal-quench data was also studied for the blend films with 9% (w/w) added copolymer.
Undergraduate Research in Polymer Science
8:30 AM-11:45 AM, Sunday, March 22, 2009 Sheraton -- Market Street Room, Oral
ACCEPTED
3) Michael Barich, to graduate 5/2009 
Cloud point analysis of critical compositions and temperatures for a polystyrene/polybutadiene blend with added diblock copolymers of varying composition
CHED 1011
Mike V. Barich, barichmv@plu.edu and Dean A. Waldow, waldowda@plu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University, 1010 122nd Street S, Tacoma, WA 98447
Phase behavior of a polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB), and diblock PS/PB blends were evaluated using cloud point analysis. Seven different diblock copolymers were used with varying PS/PB percent composition. The diblocks were introduced at 5% and 10% by mass amounts into five different PS/PB percent by mass solutions (25, 33, 39, 50, and 60% PB). The results showed that a shift in the critical values occurred, both shifting the PS/PB composition of the blend as well as the temperature. With more extreme diblock compositions, a greater raise in the critical temperature and a larger shift in critical composition relative to previous measurements. Comparisons to predictions in the literature are discussed.
Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
12:00 PM-3:00 PM, Monday, March 23, 2009 Salt Palace Convention Center -- Hall 5, Poster
ACCEPTED
4) Kurtis Fairley, to graduate 5/2009 
Anionic synthesis of multiblock copolymer compatibilizers
CHED 1009
Kurtis C. Fairley, fairlekc@plu.edu and Dean A. Waldow, waldowda@plu.edu. Department of Chemistry, Pacific Lutheran University, 1010 122nd Street S, Tacoma, WA 98447
Multiblock copolymers are thought to be very effective additives in polymer blends. Multiblock copolymers of polybutadiene and polystyrene were synthesized using positive pressure anionic techniques. These particular multiblock copolymers will be useful to compare with data from other previously studied polymer blend systems with related additives. Basic diblocks and a triblock were initially synthesized. Additionally, a tetrablock was synthesized consisting of four equal segment molecular weights of polystyrene and polybutadiene. All of the polymers were synthesized under inert conditions in cyclohexane with a positive pressure of Argon. The multiblock copolymers were characterized by NMR and GPC and resulted in narrow polydispersity with desired compositions. These copolymers are now under investigation for their compatibilization effects on the phase behavior of a polybutadiene / polystyrene blend.
Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
12:00 PM-3:00 PM, Monday, March 23, 2009 Salt Palace Convention Center -- Hall 5, Poster