Liquid Crystalline Polymers as Tunable Composite Resins for Composites Applications

The work presented in this Thesis describes the use of reactive all aromatic liquid crystalline thermosetting resins for fiber reinforced composite applications. One of the challenges associated with reactive LC thermoplastic resins is that the melting temperature ( T k lc ) is typically close to or above the decomposition temperature. In order...

All-aromatic Hyperbranched Polyaryletherketone Networks

The work presented in this thesis will open a pathway towards the design of crosslinkable hyperbranched poly(aryetherketone)s (HBPAEKs). In addition to addressing the chemistry, crosslinking characteristics and (thermo)mechanical properties we will demonstrate that crosslinked HBPAEKs are excellent candidates for membrane-based gas separation...

Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Aromatic PDMS Multiblock Copolymers

The main objective of the research described in this thesis is to explore the design, synthesis and (thermo)mechanical properties of a new family thermoplastic high-performance elastomeric (AB)n multiblock copolymers. The backbone is based on bismaleimide-functionalized all-aromatic liquid crystalline (LC) or amorphous (AM) precursors coupled...

Tailoring the free volume of all-aromatic polyimide membranes for CO2/CH4 gas separation

Efficient and cost-effective technologies that will enable separation and capture of CO2 are needed. The development of high-performance all-aromatic poly(ether)imide (P(E)I) membranes is attractive as they offer a large degree of design freedom and they are cheap to operate. However, the molecular design rules towards P(E)I membranes that...

Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Semi-aromatic Polyamide Thermosets

The work presented in this thesis describes a route towards semi-crystalline polyamide (PA 10T) thermosets. A mild temperature solution polymerization method was developed to synthesize melt-processable PA 10T precursors with crosslinkable functionalities. These functionalities can be placed at the polymer chain-ends or as pedent groups on the...

Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Novel (Multiblock) Copoly(esterimide)s and their Shape-memory Properties

Liquid Crystal Sulfonated Aramids as Proton Exchange Membranes for Fuel Cell Applications

Two sulfonated aramids, poly(2,2’-disulfonylbenzidine terephthalamide) (PBDT) and poly(2,2’-disulfonylbenzidine isophthalamide) (PBDI) were synthesized with the aim to explore their unique morphology for proton exchange membrane applications. Due to the different polymer structures, PBDT forms a nematic liquid crystal, whereas PBDI is isotropic....

Azomethine-based Donor Materials for Organic Solar Cells

Solution processable organic photovoltaics (OPVs) are attracting much attention because of their anticipated advantages such as low cost, flexibility, lightweight, and the potential to be produced on a large scale. The photoactive layer of OPVs consists of a blend of an electron donating and an electron accepting material. Over the last 20 years...

Design and Properties of SWCNT-Polyetherimide Nanocomposites

The main objective of the research presented in the thesis is to explore non-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as reinforcing nanofiller in all-aromatic thermoplastic poly(etherimide)s. The role of polymer geometry and how this affects the morphological and thermo-mechanical properties of the SWCNT-PEI nanocomposites were...

Hydrogen storage in metal organic frameworks

Synthesis, Mesophase Behaviour and Charge Mobility of Phenyl-Thiophene Pentamers

The performance of opto-electronic devices based on semi-conducting organic molecules, dependence on the molecular order of the semi-conducting molecules. To get high charge transportation through the material a high order of the material is needed. In our research we used liquid crystalline phases to get relative high order over large distances...

All-aromatic liquid crystal thermosets and composites thereof