INTEGRATED POLYMER FORMULATIONS

USING A MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM

Kazunori Iida, Thomas Q. Chastek, Michael J. Fasolka, Eric J. Amis,

and Kathryn L. Beers

We developed a new class of aluminum based microfluidic devices that integrate the synthesis of block copolymers and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement of their micelle formation. These metal devices were designed to accomplish organic syntheses at high temperatures over long periods. Continuous in-channel atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene and methacrylates were performed on the device to produce poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(lauryl methacrylate) and poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(octadecyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers. The obtained diblock copolymers were processed with a selective solvent, dodecane, to induce micelle formation, and were measured by the in situ DLS in a single process. The in situ DLS measurement provided the size and aggregation behavior of the micelles. Our study demonstrates the utility of these new devices for screening the solution behavior of custom synthesized polymeric surfactants and additives.

Author: Kazunori Iida

Mentor: Kathryn L. Beers

Division; Polymer (854)

Bldg  224, Room: B 216

Mail Stop: 8542

Telephone: 5228

Fax: 4924

e-mail: kiida@nist.gov

Sigma Xi member: No

Category: Materials, Chemistry