New Products and Processes by Carbocationic Polymerizations

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The overall objective of this grant is the preparation of unique novel, potentially useful, polymeric materials by new syntheses employing inexpensive monomers/chemicals and conventional equipment. The synthesis methods involve living carbocationic polymerizations (LC+Pzn) or a combination of LC+Pzn with other techniques, and are based on recently generated mechanistic insight . While the emphasis is always on synthesis, the elucidation of structure/property relationships and a measure of mechanical testing to suggest utility are essential parts of the projects. The proposal consists of four main projects and numerous subordinate projects: 1. Living Cationic Azeotropic Copolymerization of Isobutylene and Styrene, and Isobutylene/Styrene Copolymers Prepared by this Route. 2. Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Stars and Networks by Sol/Gel Chemistry. 3. New Thermoplastic Elastomers by Combination of Living Cationic and Radical Polymerizations. 4. Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Amphiphilic Membranes (two subprojects): A. Chemically Crosslinked Membranes, and B. Physically Crosslinked Membranes.These projects concern the preparation of novel prototype materials and investigations suggesting utility for various engineering and biomaterials applications; therefore the potential impact on advancing knowledge in designed polymeric materials could be significant. The projects will be carried out by graduate students in polymer science.