Rapid Discovery of Materials

Abstract

The Rapid Discovery of Materials discretionary LDRD was a research project that in just five months, began an investigation into the application of combinatorial methods towards the discovery of a new class of removable polymers based on thermally labile chemical weak-links. Our goal was to find a way to speed up the process (relative to the lengthy synthesis/Characterization/thermal analysis procedure used in the past) by which the decomposition temperatures of removable polymers could be determined. In order to achieve this goal, new model compounds were prepared by Diels-Alder reactions and were characterized by X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy. Polymers bearing reactive dienes and dienophiles were prepared and reacted to form the experimental material libraries attached to polymers as anchors. This effort has now reached the stage where thermogravimetric and mass spectrometric analyses can be used to determine the decomposition ranges for the different weak-links.Patent Caution 3 I. PrefaceThis report summarizes the accomplishments and contributions of a discretionary LDRD whose purpose was to begin to explore the new and rapidly developing field of Rapid Discovery otherwise known as "combinatorial materials research." In a few short months student employees from the University of New Mexico made admirable progress in intiating Sandia's efforts towards a new paradigm of research where the major limitation on discovery is one's imagination, not resources or time.