Alexander M Korsunsky
University of Oxford, UK
Title: Multi-scale deformation analysis in a thermoplastic polyurethane
Biography
Biography: Alexander M Korsunsky
Abstract
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomers are applied in a variety of situations, from medical devices to sports equipment. The block co-polymer structure of these materials engenders nano-scale structural inhomogeneities, resulting in non-uniform strain fields that depend on the scale of consideration. In order to elucidate the nature of deformation in such materials, we focus our attention on the transition between the hard and soft regions that have been called "fuzzy interfaces". To obtain experimental insights into these deformation phenomena we used a range synchrotron X-ray methods ranging from imaging to small angle scattering (SAXS) to diffraction (WAXS). Subsequent analysis by finite element modeling (FEM) and fast Fourier transformation (FFT) allowed agreement to be achieved between predicted and observed scattering patterns, providing the explanation for the observed 'strain deficit' at the nano-scale.
