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Institute of Physical Chemistry,  National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos"
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Molecular Simulation of Silicon Containing Polymer Membranes

 

 


Zoi Makrodimitri, Dr. Ioannis G. Economou

Polymeric membranes have a multitude of applications in chemical technology, such as in separation devices for various industrial processes. In this project, molecular dynamics is used to predict structure, thermodynamic and transport properties of a family of silicon-containing rubbery polymers.

In particular, a realistic united atom force field is being developed for evaluating the volumetric properties of a representative polymer in the melt at various temperatures and pressures, using the NPT ensemble. Well equilibrated structures of the polymer melt are used to predict thermodynamic properties (isothermal compressibility, thermal expansion coefficient, and cohesive energy density) and structural properties (intra- and intermolecular distributions functions, free volume, and static structure factor). In addition, dynamical properties of the polymer melt are determined, such as time correlation functions.

Furthermore, MD simulations for polymer - alkane mixtures are performed. The solubilities of n-alkanes are calculated using the Widom test particle insertion technique and the diffusivities are derived by the aforementioned MD simulations.

 Selected publications

  • Z.A. Makrodimitri, V.E. Raptis and I.G. Economou, “Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Structure, Thermodynamic and Dynamic Properties of Poly (dimethyl- silamethylene), Poly (dimethyl-silatri-methylene) and their Alternating Copolymer”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110(32), 16047 – 16058 (2006).
  • Z.A. Makrodimitri, R. Dohrn and I.G. Economou, “Atomistic Simulation of Poly (dimethylsiloxane): Force Field Development, Structure and Thermodynamic Properties of Polymer Melt and Solubility of n-Alkanes, n-Perfluoroalkanes, Noble and Light Gases”, Macromolecules, 40(5), 1720 – 1729 (2007).
  • Z.A. Makrodimitri and I.G. Economou, “Atomistic Simulation of Poly (dimethysiloxane) Permeability Properties to Gases and n-Alkanes”, Macromolecules, 41(15), 5899 – 5907 (2008).

 


 


 

 


 


 


 


Molecular Thermodynamics and Modelling of Materials Laboratory (MTMML)
Institute of Physical Chemistry,  National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" ,  Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Greece