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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M67087/01
Title: ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVED PROCESSING OF HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS VIA RING-CHANGE INTERCONVERSION
Principal Investigator: Hodge, Professor P
Other Investigators:
Colquhoun, Professor HM
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
AKZO Nobel Manchester Materials
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: Victoria University of Manchester, The
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 January 2000 Ends: 31 December 2002 Value (£): 174,628
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Aerospace, Defence and Marine Manufacturing
Chemicals Electronics
Transport Systems and Vehicles
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Support is requested for a three year research programme, to be carried out in collaboration with Professor P. Hodge of the University of Manchester. The project will include work on the cyclo-depolymerisation and subsequent ring-opening polymerisation of aromatic poly-ethers and thioethers, a cycle of reactions very recently discovered by the present investigators. Work will mainly concentrate on industrially significant engineering polymers such as the aromatic polysulfones derived from bisphenol-A, bisphenol-S, and biphenol, and also the crystalline aromatic polyketones derived from hydroquinone and dihydroxybenzophenone. However, a range of other polymers, including polythioetherketones and aromatic polyamides, will also be studied during the course of the work. Applications to be investigated include (i) polymer recycle by incorporation of polymerisable macrocyclic oligomers into conventional polycondensation reactions, (ii) development of high-performance adhesive compositions and (iii) reactive processing e.g. RIM. Macrocyclic oligomers dissolve in their parent polymers and can thus greatly reduce the polymer melt-viscosity. This promotes wetting and adhesion to the surfaces being bonded, and reproduction of fine detail during moulding processes. At higher temperatures the macrocyclic species undergo ring-opening polymerisation, potentially reaching higher molar mass than the parent polymer and so enhancing the strength and toughness of the bond or fabricated component.
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