I am deeply indebted to my parents and family for their much needed support and concern about my well being. I wish to thank Dr. Laurence for all of his time, patience, and knowledge which enabled me to complete this research. I would also like to thank Dr. Middleman for his support and advice which were much appreciated. I am grateful for all the advice of Tong and Pradeep and for their interest in the progress of my research. Finally, a special thanks to all my friends for their help in making the last two years a fun filled adventure. This research was funded by the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts and a grant from the Eastman-Kodak Company.