An Integrated Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Free Radical Polymerization

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The proposed experimental methods will allow: (1) the use of novel laser flash techniques for unprecedented levels of control of polymerizing systems; (2) measurement of concentrations of free radical polymerization living chains over a broad range of conditions by a multitechnique approach; (3) measurement of molecular weight distributions of living chains by a novel `photocopying` technique; (4) characterization of structures and dynamics of the radical end-groups; and (5) controlled generation of well-characterized monodisperse macroradicals to test fundamentals of polymer reaction kinetics by specific syntheses of monodisperse macroradicals. A range of theoretical predictions will thus be tested by these experiments. With this award, the Organic Dynamics Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities are supporting the research of Drs. Nicholas J. Turro and Ben O'Shaughnessy of the Department of Chemistry at Columbia University. The project is an interdisciplinary joint experimental-theoretical effort with an object of obtaining a mechanistic understanding of free radical polymerization and the closely associated phenomena of interpolymeric reactions. The expertise of a photochemist and a theoretical polymer physicist will unite to allow theory to proceed in close collaboration with experiments employing novel methods to measure various fundamental properties of free radical prolymerization and other reacting polymer systems.