Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/J92217/01
Title:	STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION AND RELATIONSHIP TO PROPERTIES OF POLYAMIDES AND POLYESTERS
Principal Investigator:	Atkins, Professor E
Other Investigators:	Hill, Dr M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Physics
Organisation:	University of Bristol
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 April 1995	Ends:	31 March 1997	Value (£):	76,995
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
It is astonishing that the relationship between structure and properties of the polyamides is not understood. We cannot even account for their melting temperature variation. The polyamides form a bridge between the proteins, based on a nylon 2 backbone, and approach polyethylene (nylon ) at the other extreme. The structural reorganisation that takes place as different hydrogen bond patterns develop as a function of temperature (thermotropic) and plasticer/solvent (lyotropic) are of crucial importance in understanding and predicting their behaviour and properties. Controversy exists regarding structural changes, e.g. Brill transition, whether indeed it is a transition and if so what is the nature of the phase change. Our recent work on chain-folded crystals of nylon 46 and nylon 4 show that we have the means to answer these questions by a coherent investigation of chain-folded single crystals and connect the results to commercially important fibres. With SERC support we propose the following.- We will establish beyond doubt the structural nature of the so called Brill transition using high resolution electron diffraction data from single crystals of polyamides.- We will establish the relationship between structure and melting temperature.- We will unify the thermotropic and lyotropic behaviour of the nylons and relate the concepts to commercially produced fibres.- We will undertake a preliminary study of selected polyesters (by reducing the dominance of the dipole-dipole (H-bonds) interaction) in order to extend the concept. Thus we will establish a connection with the orthorhombic/hexagonal structural change in polyethylene and the polyglycine I/polyglycine II structure.- Detailed molecular modelling of the statics and dynamics of the processes involved using state of the art computer graphics will be an essential ingredient in the programme of research.
Key Findings
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Potential use in non-academic contexts
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Impacts
Description This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk Summary Date Materialised
Sectors submitted by the Researcher
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
Project URL:
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.bris.ac.uk