| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M66554/02 |
| Title: |
ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVED PROCESSING OF HIGH- PERFORMANCE POLYMERS VIA RING-CHAIN INTERCONVERSION |
| Principal Investigator: |
Colquhoun, Professor HM |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Reading |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 October 2000 |
Ends: |
28 February 2003 |
Value (£): |
110,275
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Aerospace, Defence and Marine |
Manufacturing |
| Chemicals |
Electronics |
| Transport Systems and Vehicles |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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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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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.rdg.ac.uk |