Project Team 4 (Interfacial Phenomena)

Project Team 4 Objectives

To develop a rigorous fundamental understanding of the relationships between interfacial properties and amphiphile structure to provide data for design and synthesis of surfactants to modify behavior at interfaces and in bulk solution

In a way that:

·        Develops fundamental understanding of amphiphilic system design, such as
-         phase equilibria of binary and ternary systems in bulk and at interfaces
-         critical micelle concentrations/densities, and reversible self-assembly
-         formation of microemulsions and emulsions
-         interactions between colloids
-         wetting phenomena, interfacial tension, molecular adsorption and structure

·        Provides interfacial environments for reaction, separation, and materials formation processes

·        Defines synthetic routes to new functional molecules for self-assembly, new functional materials or coatings, rheological control agents, polymeric chelates, etc.

·        Provides new model systems for study to further improve fundamental understanding of interfaces in compressible fluids, particularly water/CO2

·        Develops an experimental database and computational tools (e.g., SAFT, GFD) to predict phase equilibria, partition coefficients, and properties

 
So that new cost-effective amphiphiles can be made which enhance chemical processes (such as polymerization) and physical processes (such as coating, particle formation, and separations), making CO₂ viable commercially, replacing existing hazardous solvents and water.

back to top

Project Team 4 Composition

 
back to top

Project Team 4 Program Summary Table