Combinatorial Methods for Characterization and Optimization of Polymer Formulations

Most applications of polymers involve blends and mixtures of components including solvents, surfactants, copolymers, fillers, organic or inorganic functional additives, and various processing aids. These components provide unique properties of polymeric materials even beyond those tailored into the basic chemical structures. In addition, skillful processing extends the properties for even greater applications. The perennial challenge of polymer science is to understand and exploit the structure-processing-property interplay relationship. We are developing and demonstrating combinatorial methods and high throughput analysis as tools to provide this fundamental understanding.