New Approaches in the Engineering and Characterization of Macromolecular Interfaces Across the Length Scales: Applications to Hydrophobic and Stimulus Responsive Polymers

The aim of the present Thesis is to enhance characterization and surface engineering approaches to test and control physico-chemical changes on modified hydrophobic (LDPE and PDMS) and stimulus-responsive (PFS) polymers across different length scales. [Here LDPE denotes low density polyethylene, PDMS stands for poly(dimethylsiloxane), and PFS for poly (ferrocenyldimethylsilanes)]. Efforts have been made to design and engineer desired surface properties of selected polymers and to characterize the chemical composition, electrokinetic and mechanical properties by various experimental techniques from the nano to the meso scale. Furthermore, a comparison of these techniques has been carried out in order to understand the aforementioned issues.