Date Approved

8-22-2008

Date Posted

1-21-2010

Degree Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department or School

Engineering Technology

Committee Member

John Texter, PhD, Chair

Committee Member

Donald Snyder, PhD

Committee Member

Harriet Lindsay, PhD

Committee Member

Bob Lahidji, PhD

Abstract

The polymerizable ionic liquid surfactant, 1-(2-acryloyloxyundecyl)-3- methylimidiazloium bromide (IL-Br) was synthesized. The ternary phase diagram of the ILBr/ MMA/water system was constructed at 25 and 60 °C. Several microemulsion polymerizations were carried out, yielding materials that ranged from latexes, which formed transparent films upon drying, to solid rods. These materials were analyzed by various methods. Latex stability in several salt solutions was tested. Homopolymers and copolymers of IL-Br and MMA were produced by bulk and solution thermal polymerization. Bulk polymerized materials were insoluble in several solvents, suggesting light cross-linking. Solution polymers were soluble in DMF and were analyzed by SEC to determine molecular weight. An IL-Br/MMA/water microemulsion and subsequent polymerized wafer were analyzed by small angle neutron scattering, exhibiting similar length scales before and after polymerization. Ion exchange between Br- and PF6 - in IL-Br resulted in the formation of open-cell porous structures in several of these materials, which was confirmed by SEM.

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