Processing of Polymers Using Supercritical Fluids

Abstract : In the past, most of the effort expended in the area of supercritical fluids and polymers has been devoted to chromotography and separation. We propose to explore using supercritical fluids as solvents for the preparation of polymers and polymer blends in the form of fibers, polymer sheets and perhaps irregularly shaped polymer solids. It is well known that many of the most interesting new 'high tech' polymers are exceedingly difficult to fabricate. These polymers exhibit such highly desirable properties as electrical conductivity, extremely high strength or remarkable thermal stability to name but a few. In the supercritical regime, one can vary and control the 'solvent power' of fluids over ranges much broader than those accessible in the usual liquid regime. We are attempting to take advantage of the high variability of solvent power of supercritical fluids with respect to processing of homopolymers as well as making polymer blends with unique properties. (JG)