Materials Research Laboratory in Polymers at the University of Massachusetts

马萨诸塞大学阿姆赫斯特分校的材料研究实验室（MRL）支持聚合物科学和工程领域的互动、跨学科研究，这些研究分为三个主要领域。聚合物体系中模式形成的推力研究是从早期MRL对聚合物共混物的研究发展而来的。它侧重于多相聚合物体系的结构和模式形成，包括共混物和液晶。限制几何聚合物领域的研究人员正在合成和表征新型聚合物薄膜和表面，研究其相应的性质，并研究聚合物吸附过程。有序聚合物固体的新推力致力于聚合物合成的新方法，新周期性聚合物形态的表征，加工和性能预测。一个主要的重点是放在新型聚合物的精确定义的结构生产结合生化技术到合成程序。MRL还支持中央研究设施的开发、维护和运行，用于表征、形态和流变测定、光谱学和计算。它还为探索性研究和材料研究的新举措提供种子资金，并支持促进少数民族参与的项目，并为本科生提供聚合物研究的经验。本项目现有教职工19人，来自4个系，博士后3人，研究生19人，本科生15人，以及相关技术和文书人员。马萨诸塞大学阿姆赫斯特分校的核磁共振实验室由David A. Tirrell教授领导。

The Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst supports interactive, interdisciplinary research in polymer science and engineering organized into three major thrust areas. Thrust research on pattern formation in polymer systems has evolved from earlier work in the MRL on polymer blends. It focusses on structure and pattern formation in multiphase polymer systems, including both blends and liquid crystals. Researchers in the thrust area on polymers in restricted geometries are synthesizing and characterizing novel polymeric films and surfaces, investigating their corresponding properties, and studying polymer adsorption processes. A new thrust on ordered polymeric solids is devoted to novel approaches to polymer synthesis, characterization of new periodic polymer morphologies, processing and property prediction. A major emphasis is placed on novel polymers of precisely defined structure produced by incorporating biochemical techniques into the synthetic procedures. The MRL also supports the development, maintenance and operation of central research facilities for characterization, morphology and rheology determination, spectroscopy, and computation. It also provides seed funding for exploratory research and new initiatives in materials research, and supports programs to foster increased participation by minorities and to provide experience in polymer research for undergraduates. The research program currently involves 19 faculty members from four departments, 3 postdoctoral research associates, 19 graduate students and 15 undergraduates, and supporting technical and clerical staff. The MRL at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst is directed by Professor David A. Tirrell.