| In polymer inclusion compounds (ICs), the guest polymer chains are confined to narrow, cylindrical channels created by the host, small-molecule lattice, where the polymers are highly extended, as a consequence of being squeezed, and are separated from neighboring polymer chains by the IC channel walls composed exclusively of the small-molecule lattice. It is possible to coalesce the polymer chains from their ICs by exposure to a solvent for the small molecule host which is not a solvent for the included polymer chains. When crystallizable polymers are coalesced from their ICs by solvent treatment, they are observed to crystallize in an extended chain morphology accompanied by much less chain-folding than occurs when crystallization of the same polymers take place from their disordered melt or solution environments. For semi-crystalline fiber-forming polymers, it may be possible to spin highly elongated, high modulus fibers from polymer-ICs using conventional spinning techniques. Also, embedding polymer-IC crystals into a carrier polymer, followed by in situ release and coalescence of the included polymers from their IC crystals, offer a means to obtain polymer-polymer composites with unique morphologies.; This research has focused on the study of the inclusion compounds formed between cyclodextrins (CDs) and high molecular weight polymers, including poly({dollar}varepsilon{dollar}-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and nylon 6, and also includes several CD-ICs formed with small molecule guests, like dye molecules and Neomycin Sulfate, the later is an antibiotic agent commonly used in bandages. DSC, TGA, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, and Solid State {dollar}sp{lcub}13{rcub}{dollar}C NMR have been utilized to observe and confirm that polymer chains have been successfully included inside the IC channels formed by the cyclodextrins, while the small molecule guests may have formed cage structure ICs with cyclodextrins.; Some of these ICs have also been embedded into chemically identical or distinct polymer phases, like PCL, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), and nylon 6. Most efforts have been concentrated on making IC-embedded film samples of molecular polymer-polymer composites, but IC embedded fiber samples achieved by melt spinning nylon 6 fibers was also explored. The morphology and properties of IC-embedded polymer composite films and fibers have been studied by applying water vapor permeation, DSC, and microscopic observations. Applications in both theoretical and practical areas of the controlled-release of guest molecules from their ICs by using the CD-IC technology are suggested. |
