Synthesis and characterization of artificial muscles based on SBS-type block copolymers with phase-selective sulfonation

• Grant number: 22/04348-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Henrique Scuracchio
• Grantee: Matheus Colovati Saccardo
• Supervisor: Edmondo Maria Benetti
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Padova, Italy
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/02696-6 - Synthesis and characterization of artificial muscles based on SBS block copolymers with selective sulfonation of the phases, BP.DR

Abstract

Ionomeric polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) are smart and bio-inspired materials with a metal/electroactive-polymer/metal sandwich-type structure and can deform in response to electrical stimuli and vice versa. Electroactive polymers (EAP) provide lightweight and cost-effective materials that enable the next generation of electromechanical devices. Commercial polymers have historically dominated research in EAP devices due to their availability. However, several drawbacks of these materials have limited their commercial applications, necessitating new materials for the commercial success of future EAP devices. Block copolymers emerge as a viable alternative for replacing commercial membranes aiming to develop high-performance and low-cost IPMCs. The styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer is an important thermoplastic elastomer that can be synthesized through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to produce a nanostructured morphological structure with well-defined domains, which can be selectively sulfonated to develop an ionomer specifically designed to improve ionic migration, at the same time that the mechanical properties of high flexibility and resistance are maintained. RAFT is one of the most robust and versatile methods for controlled radical polymerization. The appropriate selection of the RAFT agent for the monomers and reaction conditions applies to most monomers subject to radical polymerization. The process can synthesize well-defined homo, gradient, diblock, triblock, star polymers, and more complex architectures, including microgels and polymer brushes. Therefore, this project aims the use the RAFT technique to synthesize block copolymers with controlled morphology and well-defined block size, to obtain electroactive polymers and their use as high-performance IPMCs. (AU)