Breaking Down the Mechanics of Polymers: From Networks to Viscoelasticity

ACS Webinars

When designing polymers to achieve desired characteristics, such as toughness, elasticity, and resilience, you must not only consider the type of polymer, but also the mechanics of its macromolecular architecture.

Sergei Sheiko of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will first delve into the nuanced properties of polymer networks, including their modulus, strain-stiffening behavior, and swelling tendencies, all of which are intricately linked to the network's architectural configuration. Then, Adrianne Rosales of the University of Texas at Austin, will underscore the significance of viscoelasticity – a phenomenon embodying both solid and liquid properties. She will also elucidate the mechanical characterization of viscoelastic materials, employing shear oscillatory rheology techniques in both the linear and nonlinear regions.

Register now to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate world of polymer mechanics and its impact on material behavior.

This ACS Webinar is moderated by Dominik Konkolewicz of Miami University and Rachel Letteri of the University of Virginia and is co-produced with the ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering (PMSE).

What You Will Learn

  • The elastic responses of elastomers and gels
  • Network architecture: Decoupling softness, firmness, and swelling ratio
  • The forensics of polymer networks: Deciphering the network structure from its nonlinear elastic response
  • Characterizing the storage and loss moduli using shear rheology
  • Characterizing stress relaxation in viscoelastic polymers
  • Rheological characterization: The differences between “linear” and “nonlinear”

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It has benefited me in having a closer understanding of polymers which in my courses of chemistry had never mentioned.

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Meet the Experts

Sergei S. Sheiko
Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Adrianne M. Rosales
Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Austin

Dominik Konkolewicz
John W. Steube Professor, Graduate Director & Assistant Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Miami University

Rachel Letteri
Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Virginia

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