Environmental polymer degradation

该项目将使用质谱法和计算化学的强大组合来梳理环境条件下聚合物降解机制的关键方面。社会越来越依赖于人造聚合物，但聚合物的使用寿命和化石燃料储量有限。需要设计原则来指导从油漆到光伏电池保护涂层的耐用聚合物的合成。该项目将建立适当的指导方针，并为合成坚固耐用的聚合物或不破坏环境的聚合物提供科学基础。这将为一个占澳大利亚制造业总量约12%的行业带来显著的经济和环境效益。

This project will use the powerful combination of mass spectrometry and computational chemistry to tease out key aspects of polymer degradation mechanisms under environmental conditions. Society increasingly relies on manufactured polymers but polymer lifespan and fossil fuel reserves are limited. Design principles are needed to guide the synthesis of durable polymers for applications from paints to protective coatings in photovoltaic cells. This project will establish appropriate guidelines and provide the scientific foundation for the synthesis of robust, long-lasting polymers, or polymers that decompose without damaging the environment. This will deliver significant economic and environmental benefits to an industry sector that contributes about 12 per cent of total Australian manufacturing.