Gas Phase and Cluster Polymerization. A Molecular Level Approach

El-Shall由实验物理化学计划支持，研究气相和簇聚合的动力学和机理，目的是了解与基础和应用聚合物科学相关的基本离子聚合系统。 研究目标包括阳离子共聚的引发、反应活性和温度依赖性动力学的表征，低聚物和环化产物的结构测定，溶剂效应的阐明，以及金属催化聚合的研究。 气相离子色谱（IC）仪器将被构建和用于执行动力学和平衡热化学测量。 这些研究的结果有望在气相聚合的发展中找到促进直接技术收益的应用。使用无溶剂方法合成聚合物消除了对蒸馏、干燥和溶剂回收的需要。这意味着在某些工业应用中可以降低与聚合物材料生产相关的运营成本。 同样，气相聚合方法可用于生产受控形态和组成的无缺陷均匀聚合物薄膜。 这种材料可以作为保护涂层和电绝缘体的技术应用。 该研究项目为弗吉尼亚联邦大学的不同学生群体提供了独特的教育和培训机会。

El-Shall is supported by the Experimental Physical Chemistry Program to study the kinetics and mechanisms of gas phase and cluster polymerization, with the goals of understanding elementary ionic polymerization systems relevant to basic and applied polymer science. Research objectives include the characterization of initiation, reactivities, and temperature-dependent kinetics of cationic copolymerization, structure determination of oligomers and cyclization products, elucidation of solvent effects, and investigations of metal-catalyzed polymerization. A gas phase ion chromatography (IC) instrument will be constructed and used to perform the kinetic and equilibrium thermochemistry measurements. The outcomes from these studies are expected to find applications that promote direct technological gains in the development of gas phase polymerization.The synthesis of polymers using solvent-free methods eliminates the need for distillation, drying, and solvent recovery. This means that operating costs associated with polymeric material production could be reduced in some industrial applications. As well, gas phase polymerization approaches can be used to produce defect-free uniform thin polymer films of controlled morphology and composition. Such materials could have technological applications as protective coatings and electrical insulators. This research project provides unique education and training opportunities for a diverse group of students at Virginia Commonwealth University.