Verifying High-Throughput Methods for Determining Mechanical Properties of UV Cured Polymers

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Chemistry

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Jason Hattrick-Simpers, University of South Carolina

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Abstract

The focus of this research is to create and test a high-throughput method for tensile-testing a large number of polymer samples cured with ultraviolet (UV) light. The method creates 27 separate tensile samples in a short amount of time relative to other known methods of tensile testing. Full trays of 27 thiol-ene polymer samples were synthesized by reacting Trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercatopropionate) with Trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and a photo initiator, 2,2-Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone. The hypothesis for this research was that each sample could have a different variable while keeping the same statistical validity across each one. Individually, each of the samples does not have enough statistical validity to create 27 different tensile samples. When merged into groups of five or six based on location on a Teflon tray, standard deviation is 7% instead of over 100% when compared individually. Creating trays of polymers to be used in tandem with high-throughput tensile testing methods immensely sped up the tensile testing process for polymers. Future direction for this research is to combine it with automated systems to create the trays autonomously and more quickly.

Location

Wall 226

Start Date

3-25-2017 11:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral Only

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 11:45 AM

Verifying High-Throughput Methods for Determining Mechanical Properties of UV Cured Polymers

Wall 226

The focus of this research is to create and test a high-throughput method for tensile-testing a large number of polymer samples cured with ultraviolet (UV) light. The method creates 27 separate tensile samples in a short amount of time relative to other known methods of tensile testing. Full trays of 27 thiol-ene polymer samples were synthesized by reacting Trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercatopropionate) with Trimethylolpropane triacrylate, and a photo initiator, 2,2-Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone. The hypothesis for this research was that each sample could have a different variable while keeping the same statistical validity across each one. Individually, each of the samples does not have enough statistical validity to create 27 different tensile samples. When merged into groups of five or six based on location on a Teflon tray, standard deviation is 7% instead of over 100% when compared individually. Creating trays of polymers to be used in tandem with high-throughput tensile testing methods immensely sped up the tensile testing process for polymers. Future direction for this research is to combine it with automated systems to create the trays autonomously and more quickly.