National Institute of Standards and Technology Technology Administration U.S. Department of MSEL Commerce NISTIR 6796 FY 2001 PROGRAMS September 2001 AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS POLYMERS DIVISION Advance measurement methods to characterize microstructure failure in composites This optical image is a planar array of glass fibers embedded in epoxy resin matrix deformed under tension. The arrays are used to investigate the failure initiation in fibrous composites. In the optical image, the fibers are spaced (30 to 45) mm apart and the dark regions along each fiber are cracks that extend into the surrounding polymer matrix. The light blue regions that connect the fiber breaks show high deformation shear bands that emanate from the tips of the matrix cracks. National Institute of Standards and Technology Karen H. Brown, MATERIALS Acting Director Technology SCIENCE AND Administration ENGINEERING U.S. Department of Commerce Donald L. Evans, Secretary LABORATORY T OF C EN OM M M T E R R FY 2001 PROGRAMS A C P E E D AND U N A I C T I E R D E S M ACCOMPLISHMENTS T A ATES OF POLYMERS DIVISION Eric J. Amis, Chief Bruno M. Fanconi, Deputy NISTIR 6796 September 2001 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Technical Highlights Mass Spectrometry of Polyethylene ......................................................................................................................... 4 Combinatorial Study of Surface Pattern Formation ................................................................................................... 6 Measurement Methods Aid Development of Photoresists for Next-Generation Photolithography ......................... 8 Polymer Mass Distribution by Mass Spectrometry .................................................................................................10 Multi-Fiber Failure Propagation ...............................................................................................................................12 Biocompatibility of a Moldable, Resorbable, Composite Bone Graft .......................................................................14 The Mechanism of Sharkskin ...................................................................................................................................16 Projects and Programs Combinatorial Methods .....................................................................................................................................................19 High-Throughput Measurements of Crystallization and Nucleation in Polyolefins ................................................20 Combinatorial Mapping of Polymer Film Wettabilty ................................................................................................21 Anisotropic Adhesion Between Polymers, Metals, Ceramics and Biomaterials ......................................................22 Patterned Polymeric Substrates for Directed Cell Growth ........................................................................................23 Microwell Arrays for Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) ..................................................................................24 Tissue Development in Co-extruded Polymer Scaffolds ..........................................................................................25 Interface of Materials with Biology ....................................................................................................................................26 The Dynamic Effects of Protein Stabilization in Glass Forming Liquids ..................................................................27 Structure-Property Relationships in Dental Polymers ..............................................................................................28 A Moldable, Resorbable, Macroporous, Composite Bone Graft Containing Growth Factor ...................................29 Bioactive Polymeric Composites for Mineralized Tissue Regeneration ...................................................................30 Materials For Microelectronics ..........................................................................................................................................31 Characterization of Porous Low-k Dielectric Constant Thin Films ...........................................................................32 Polymer Fundamentals of Photolithography ...........................................................................................................33 Characterizing Buried Polymer/Substrate Interfaces ................................................................................................34 Materials For Wireless Communication .............................................................................................................................35 Dielectric Metrology for Polymer Composite Films in the Microwave Range ..........................................................36 ii Multiphase Polymeric Materials ........................................................................................................................................37 Constitutive Relationship of Polymer Blends for Process Modeling Needs ............................................................38 Modeling of Interfaces and Interphases of Polymeric Systems ...............................................................................39 Synergistic Interactions in Polymer-Nanoparticle Composites ................................................................................40 Structure-Property Characterization and Modeling .................................................................................................41 Mechanics of Fiber and Nano-Filled Composites ....................................................................................................42 Poly-OOF: A Virtual Experimental Tool for Polymer Research ..................................................................................43 Polymer Characterization ...................................................................................................................................................44 Optical Coherence Tomography ..............................................................................................................................45 Polyolefin Mass Spectrometry .................................................................................................................................46 Fluorescent Sub-Micrometer Probe Molecules with Starlike Architecture ..............................................................47 Standard Reference Materials ..................................................................................................................................48 Quantitative Mass Spectrometry of Synthetic Polymers .........................................................................................49 Support for the Biomaterials Integrated Products Industries...................................................................................50 Control of Extrusion Instabilities .............................................................................................................................51 Real-Time Process Monitoring ................................................................................................................................52 Micro-scale Processing ............................................................................................................................................53 Publications .......................................................................................................................................................................54 Staff and Organizational Structure Polymers Division ....................................................................................................................................................62 Research Staff ..........................................................................................................................................................63 Organizational Charts ...............................................................................................................................................71 Certain commercial materials and equipment are identified in this report in order to specify adequately the experimen- tal procedures. In no case does such identification imply recommedation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology nor does it imply necessar- ily the best available for the purpose. iii Executive Summary The Polymers Division provides measurement methods, neighboring fibers and the matrix resin in a fiber-rein- standards, and concepts to facilitate technology develop- forced composite. ment, manufacture of products, commerce, and use of synthetic polymers. Projects are selected based on assess- • Increasing use is made of synthetic polymers in human implants to restore body function and improve quality ments of current needs and in anticipation of future needs of life. New therapies are under development through as determined from topical workshops, industry roadmaps, as well as visits to companies and other research organiza- tissue engineered products approaches. This year we demonstrated the utility of a new approach to produce tions. Much of our work is performed collaboratively with a polymeric scaffold of controlled morphology