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Testing the Sticky Rouse Model for Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervates

Morin, Frances (2019) Testing the Sticky Rouse Model for Polyelectrolyte Complex Coacervates. Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Polyelectrolyte complexes are entropically driven associations of charged macromolecules in aqueous salt solution. These polyelectrolyte complexes can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation into a polymer poor supernatant and a polymer rich coacervate, which possess practical viscoelastic properties that make them valuable for product design. With a unique salt-addition methodology, we are able to independently investigate the impact of salt concentration and polymer volume fraction on the viscoelastic properties of these materials. This allows us to independently determine the dependence of relaxation times on both variables with no approximations expanding our understanding of these dynamic materials. We find the relaxation times scales as the polymer concentration to the power of 5.82±0.54 and salt concentration to the power of 1.79±0.24. These values suggest that the current literature underestimates the impact of the polymer volume fraction on the viscoelastic response of polyelectrolyte complex coacervates. Furthermore, the charge density of these materials was probed with a carefully synthesized weak polyelectrolyte system in order to investigate the cooperativity of charge sites. Preliminary results suggest that this area of study will provide a deeper understanding of the driving forces behind these dynamics.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Morin, Francesfjm22@pitt.edufjm22
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairLaaser, Jenniferj.laaser@pitt.edujel183
Committee MemberMeyer, Taratmeyer@pitt.edu
Committee MemberHutchison, Geoffreygeoffh@pitt.edu
Date: 26 September 2019
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 2 August 2019
Approval Date: 26 September 2019
Submission Date: 8 August 2019
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 49
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Chemistry
Degree: MS - Master of Science
Thesis Type: Master's Thesis
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Polyelectrolyte complexes, coacervates, polymer
Date Deposited: 26 Sep 2019 14:28
Last Modified: 26 Sep 2019 14:28
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/37335

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