The production and properties of crosslinked water-soluble polymers

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Water-soluble polymers represent a very broad class of polymeric materials ranging from naturally formed polymers to a range of synthetic materials having immense practical utility. Both natural and synthetic water-soluble polymers are used today in many practical applications of great economic and technological importance to Canada, such as: enhanced oil recovery, waste treatment, viscosity modification, adhesives, coatings, water retention-, biomedical-, pharmaceutical- and high value cosmetic-products. The overall objective of the proposed work is to provide a better scientific understanding of the reaction factors that affect production of important types of multi-component water soluble polymers. These studies will look at the kinetics of polymerization in relation to the detailed structure of polymers (relative monomer composition and size (molecular weight)). The fundamental aim of the proposed work in scientific terms is to provide a better appreciation of the major controlling factors for polymerizations in aqueous media. It is proposed to carry out systematic experimental studies with a goal of understanding multi-component systems for producing water-soluble polymers. The study would provide valuable data that would be used to develop mathematical models for the polymerizations, which could then be used as reliable predictive tools. This would allow the design of more efficient processes for making polymers with targeted structures. The information obtained will also allow for a better understanding of processes that have great potential in applications of growing economic and practical interest such as pharmaceutical delivery and functional nanoparticles. In addition to the scientific data collected the study would also provide excellent training opportunities for HQP in the area of polymer synthesis and characterization.