Author: Theresa Shafer

Medical Plastics Division – Happy Hour Speaker Series 🍹
Featuring: Dr. William Boston Morris

newly granted PhD of Material Science & Engineering from Colorado State University

Title: “Thermoplastic Hydrogel-Elastomer Composites Through Compatibilization with Common Copolymer End-Blocks”

Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 6:00p – 7:00p Eastern / 3-4pm Pacific

Agenda:

6:00 Welcome / Introductions / Review Session Format

6:05 Introduce our featured speaker, Will Boston Morris

6:30 Begin Q&A & continue “Happy Hour” discussion

7:00 Wrap up and Thanks to all for participating, especially Will aka “Boston”!

Abstract: The development of immiscible polymer-polymer composites that unify disparate material properties into a single bulk material has long been hindered by challenges in stabilizing incompatible polymer domains against macrophase separation while achieving sufficient interfacial adhesion for efficient mechanical load transfer. This work introduces a new class of polymer-polymer composites designed to address these challenges based on forming composites between styrenic block copolymer (SBC) thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) containing immiscible copolymer midblocks with distinct material properties.

Leveraging the inherent microphase separation behavior of ABA block copolymer systems, which are widely used in TPEs to generate reversible physical crosslinking, this work establishes a simple, scalable, and tunable method for fabricating tough, durable, and intrinsically lubricious hydrogel–elastomer composites. By combining TPE materials that share common vitreous polystyrene end blocks, each component forms its own phase-separated elastomeric network while simultaneously experiencing enhanced interfacial adhesion. Continuous vitreous polystyrene domains formed at the component interfaces stabilize the blend morphology and enable mechanical load transfer between phases. Adjusting the compositional ratios and specific TPEs selected, allows this composite platform to be tailored to meet a diverse range of performance specifications pertinent in medical devices, soft electronics, and membrane technologies.

The thermoplastic hydrogel–elastomer composites developed in this work specifically address the persistent need for intrinsically lubricious, low-friction elastomers and silicones. Traditional elastomers, while flexible and durable, often suffer from tacky surfaces that require secondary lubricious treatments for medical device applications. Conversely, hydrogels offer excellent lubricity and poroelastic relaxation but typically lack scalable methods for introducing the needed mechanical strength and toughness. By integrating an SBC thermoplastic hydrogel phase into commercial SBC TPEs, this work demonstrates the creation of versatile hydrogel composites featuring hydrophilic lubricious surfaces and outstanding mechanical durability while remaining thermally processable using standard processing techniques such as injection molding and extrusion.

Bio: Dr. William Boston Morris recently completed his PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Colorado State University following a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering. His doctoral research developed thermoplastic elastomer-hydrogel composites, a promising new medical plastic designed to provide hydrophilic low-friction intrinsically to styrenic TPEs, such as SEBS, for medical devices like catheters and soft tissue mimics. William has experience working with Gelastomerics, a startup commercializing this technology, and managed a materials testing lab at CSU, where he trained and mentored students. He is currently seeking industry opportunities to apply his materials science expertise.