College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2023-05-04 09:30:50
Major
Applied Mathematics
Honors Course
3650:488
Number of Credits
3
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2021
Abstract
Polyisobutylene (PIB) rubbers can be reinforced with crystalline β-alanine nanodomains. Progress has been made in understanding the morphology of the nanodomains, but the dynamics of the PIB molecule chains attached to the surface of the nanodomains and in the matrix are not well understood. It is possible to observe the motion of these PIB chains using Neutron Spin Echo (NSE) experiments, since the experimental technique can give data for smaller timescales. Data collection for reinforced rubber samples has already been performed, but the data still need to be analyzed. For my honors project I will be comparing the data to the predictions of theoretical models and doing nonlinear regression of the data with our candidate models. The project has useful applications in the biomedical industry due to the ability to control nanodomain size. The project will expand my understanding of polymer physics and will require the application of knowledge from applied math courses. The project will also improve my familiarity with scattering techniques, experimental data collection, and methods for analyzing scattering data.
Research Sponsor
Mark Foster
First Reader
Antonio Faraone
Second Reader
Jutta Luettmer-Strathmann
Honors Faculty Advisor
Robert Mallik
Recommended Citation
Benninghoff, Logan, "Quantifying Confinement of Chain Dynamics for Chains Tethered to Self-Assembling Crystalline Nanodomains Using Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy" (2021). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 1315.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/1315
Signature page