Issues in multicomponent polymerizations polymeric sensor development

拟议研究计划的总体目标是使用聚合物反应工程工具来“塑造”聚合物性能，并帮助聚合物产品设计和优化。换句话说，基于我们在聚合物工艺工程方面的长期经验，我们正在努力生产具有所需性能(聚合物改性和优化)的聚合物。这些期望的特性包括小分子(微结构)和化学/机械(最终用途)特性。因此，拟议的计划既涉及基础研究，也涉及应用研究。 将在以下方面开展研究：(1)多组分聚合动力学和竞聚率估计，这是我们在国际上都是专家的一个研究领域，在估计重要聚合系统的关键反应性参数(学术和工业上)方面具有独特的地位；(2)开发用于检测有毒分析物(挥发性有机化合物)的新型聚合物传感器。这对我们来说是一个新的研究方向，但它将严重依赖于过去在聚合物性能改性方面的专业知识。在与系统设计和电气工程师的合作下，我们将开发一系列处方，使人们能够将适当的聚合物与特定的化学物质‘匹配’(这就是这项工作与过去高度专业化的一次性尝试的不同之处)。 所有上述研究领域都代表着非常复杂的问题，在加拿大是独一无二的，从学术和商业角度来看都具有极其重要的意义。由于它们跨越跨学科的边界(化学工程、化学、材料特性、传感器开发、微型化、系统设计/电气/纳米/聚合物工程)，它们非常适合研究生培训和扩大我们的知识经济。

The general objectives of the proposed research program are to use polymer reaction engineering tools in order to "fashion" polymer properties and aid in polymer product design and optimization. In other words, based on our long-term experience in polymer process engineering, we are trying to produce polymers with desired properties (polymer modification and optimization). These desired properties include both micro-molecular (micro-structural) and chemical/mechanical (end-use) properties. As such, the proposed program deals with both fundamental and applied research. Research will be pursued in: (1) Multicomponent polymerization kinetics and reactivity ratio estimation, an area of research that we are experts internationally and in a unique position to make further contributions on the estimation of key reactivity parameters of important polymerization systems (both academically and industrially); (2) Development of novel polymeric sensors for the detection of toxic analytes (volatile organic compounds). This is a new direction of research for us, but one that will rely heavily on past expertise with polymer property modification. In collaboration with Systems Design and Electrical engineers, we will develop a series of prescriptions which will enable one to 'match' appropriate polymers to a specific chemical (and that is what differentiates this work from past efforts that are highly specialized, one-shot, attempts). All of the above research areas represent very complex problems, are unique in Canada, and are extremely significant from both academic and commercial standpoints. Since they cross interdisciplinary boundaries (Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, material properties, sensor development, miniaturization, Systems Design/ Electrical/ Nano-/ Polymer Engineering), they are very appropriate for graduate student training, and for expanding our knowledge-based economy.