| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R79814/01 |
| Title: |
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Vinyl-Polymer Silica Colloidal Nanocomposites |
| Principal Investigator: |
Armes, Professor SP |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Sussex |
| Scheme: |
ROPA |
| Starts: |
01 April 2002 |
Ends: |
30 April 2004 |
Value (£): |
109,565
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Materials Characterisation |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
We will synthesise four new series of vinyl polymer-silica colloidal nanocomposites using various strategies. In each case surfactant-free (co)polymerisations will be conducted in aqueous or mixed aqueous media, generally in the presence of an ultrafine silica sol. In theme (i) we will explore the synthesis of nanocomposite particles under true dispersion polymerisation conditions using 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate in conjunction with 4-vinylpyridine, an auxiliary reported earlier by our group which promotes a sufficiently strong interaction between the polymer chains and the ultrafine silica particles. In theme (ii) three alternative auxiliaries to 4-vinylpyridine will be investigated and in theme (iii) we will further investigate our intriguing recent discovery that, under certain conditions, colloidal nanocomposite particles can be prepared in the absence of any auxiliary. The feasibility of generating silica in situ via the hydrolysis of aqueous sodium silicate at elevated temperature will be explored in theme (iv). In each case the resulting nanocomposite particles will be characterised in terms of their particle size distributions, silica contents, particle densities and surface compositions using a wide range of techniques (see Proposal for further details).
|
|
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.sussex.ac.uk |