Smoke Suppression of Vinyl Polymers by Reductive Crosslinking Agents

该项目涉及PVC抑烟和阻燃的新方法，该方法涉及由聚合物基体中的金属化合物形成的零价或低价金属对聚合物链的还原偶联。提出的研究的具体目标包括进一步了解还原偶联化学的机理，因为它适用于氯化聚合物。此外，还将进行潜在抑烟剂的合成和添加剂的筛选。最终，将在此开发的技术扩展到其他商业聚合物。通过这个奖项，有机和大分子化学项目支持威廉和玛丽学院的William H. Starnes, Jr.和Robert D. Pike教授的研究。斯塔恩斯教授和派克教授将运用他们各自在聚合物和有机金属化学方面的知识来解决PVC塑料的防烟和阻燃问题。这是通过使用金属催化剂来实现的，在燃烧过程中遇到的条件下，金属催化剂会使小的挥发性分子结合成较大的煤烟颗粒。

This project deals with a new method of PVC smoke suppression and fire retardance, which involves the reductive coupling of the polymer chains by zero- or low-valent metals that are formed from metal compounds within the polymer matrix. Specific objectives of the proposed research include a furtherance of the mechanistic understanding of reductive coupling chemistry as it applies to chlorinated polymers. In addition, the synthesis of potential smoke suppressants will be undertaken and additives screened. Ultimately, extension of the technologies developed herein to other commercial polymers will be pursued.With this Award, the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program supports the research of Professors William H. Starnes, Jr. and Robert D. Pike of the College of William and Mary. Professor Starnes and Pike will apply their respective knowledge of polymer and organometallic chemistry to the problem of smoke and fire retardance in PVC plastics. This is undertaken through the use of metal catalysts that will cause the coalescence of small, volatile molecules into larger, sooty particles under the conditions encountered during combustion.