“Introducing an Exceptional Polymer Designed to Withstand Extreme High and Low Temperatures”
Introduction:
Polymer research at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering has led to the development of two polymers with different temperature responses. These polymers can be used in various fields such as medicine, protein synthesis, and protective coatings. Their unique design allows for quick adaptation and minimal interference in different applications.
Full Article: “Introducing an Exceptional Polymer Designed to Withstand Extreme High and Low Temperatures”
Scientists Develop Temperature-Responsive Polymers for Various Applications
Once upon a time in the modern world, synthetic polymers emerged as a groundbreaking solution to meet countless needs. These long-chained molecules, meticulously designed by scientists, found their way into various applications. Now, a team of researchers at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering has introduced two closely related polymers that possess unique temperature-responsive properties, opening doors to potential applications in medicine, protein synthesis, protective coatings, and more. The details of their groundbreaking work have been published in the journal Macromolecules.
Changing the Game: A Versatile Polymer
Traditionally, scientists had to develop specific polymers tailored to different applications, each with its own distinct thermal behavior. However, Coauthor Hoyong Chung, an associate professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, explains that their discovery revolutionizes this approach. By making a small structural variation, the team achieved two polymers with contrasting thermal behaviors using a single type of polymer, eliminating the need for multiple designs.
The Secret Ingredient: Sulfoxide
At the heart of these innovative polymers lies sulfoxide, a compound composed of sulfur, oxygen, and carbon molecules. One of the polymer versions contains an additional ingredient known as a methylene group consisting of a pair of hydrogen atoms. This subtle difference enables the polymers to exhibit distinct responses to temperature variations.
The Battle of Solubility
The researchers discovered that each version of the polymer had its own solubility characteristics, transforming under specific temperature conditions. In one version, the polymer dissolves in water at low temperatures but becomes insoluble as the temperature rises. The other polymer, on the other hand, displays the opposite behavior, remaining insoluble at lower temperatures and dissolving at higher temperatures.
Biswajit Saha, the paper’s lead author and a postdoctoral researcher, expresses excitement about this surprising finding and the potential avenues for future research it unveils.
Revolutionary Insights and Two-Stage Thermal Behavior
The research team made several additional discoveries alongside their creation of these temperature-responsive polymers. One groundbreaking finding was a new mechanism that governs the critical temperature threshold. While previous studies suggested that hydrogen atom bonds determined this threshold, Chung’s team revealed that the attraction between positively and negatively charged poles of different molecules, also known as dipole-dipole interaction, played a role in predicting polymer solubility. Moreover, the team observed that their polymer exhibited two-stage thermal behavior, unlike most solutions that experience a single-phase change at their temperature threshold. This unique characteristic opens up possibilities for innovative applications in medicine, such as developing a single medicine capsule that dissolves in the stomach’s heat in two stages, enabling precise medicine delivery.
Chung emphasizes the significance of their findings, stating that a single polymer with customizable behaviors can easily adapt to various applications.
Acknowledgments
This noteworthy research was made possible with the support of the National Science Foundation.
Summary: “Introducing an Exceptional Polymer Designed to Withstand Extreme High and Low Temperatures”
Researchers at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering have developed two polymers that respond differently to high and low temperature thresholds. These polymers have potential applications in medicine, protein synthesis, protective coatings, and other fields. The researchers made other discoveries, such as a new mechanism that governs critical temperature threshold and a two-stage thermal behavior. This research opens up possibilities for adapting a single polymer to different applications.
