Urgent acquisition of a high-temperature gel permeation chromatograph for the analysis of polymers

本提案的目的是获得一种高温凝胶渗透色谱仪（HT-GPC），用于分析在室温下不溶于任何溶剂的聚合物的分子量分布（MWD）。MWD的知识对于在聚合物科学和工程领域工作的所有科学家来说都是必不可少的，因为该参数与聚合物的机械，流变，工艺相关，光学和耐久性密切相关。MWD的测定通常在GPC中进行，在室温或略高于室温下操作。然而，许多聚合物，如受此提议影响的聚合物，仅在高温（高于140 ℃）下可溶，需要可以在这种条件下操作的特定色谱单元。我们要求的仪器将由舍布鲁克大学（UdS）从事聚合物相关领域研究的众多研究人员使用，并将位于UdS化学系。特别是，它对于分析Claverie、Soldera和Huneault组中制备/加工的聚烯烃、Zhao组中制备的聚丙烯酰胺、Elkoun组中加工的聚酯以及Harvey组中制备的复杂大分子结构是必不可少的。目前在UdS没有这样的工具。随着PI最近抵达UdS，该仪器的采购变得不可避免，因为能够承受支持coPI研究所需的分析量的功能仪器在加拿大不可用。两家现有供应商中的一家将于明年停产HT-GPC生产线，使另一家处于垄断地位，这一事实加强了收购的紧迫性。除了对下面所示的研究计划产生重大影响外，这些仪器还将成为与聚合物科学相关的HQP培训工作的关键。由于仪器将放置在一个方便的设施中，配备有经过专门培训的人员，我们预计至少有80名HQP将使用这种HT-GPC。

The aim of this proposal is to acquire a High-Temperature Gel Permeation Chromatograph (HT-GPC) necessary to analyze the molecular weight distribution (MWD) of polymers which are insoluble in any solvent at room temperature. The knowledge of the MWD is essential for all scientists working in the domain of polymer science and engineering, as this parameter is intimately linked to mechanical, rheological, process-related, optical and durability of the polymer. Determination of the MWD is usually performed in GPCs, operating at room temperature or slightly above. However, many polymers, such as the ones impacted by this proposal, are only soluble at high temperature (above 140 oC), necessitating a specific chromatographic unit which can operate under such conditions. The instrument we request will be used by the numerous researchers working on polymer-related domains at the Université de Sherbrooke (UdS), and will be located in the department of chemistry of UdS. In particular, it will be indispensable for the analysis of polyolefins prepared/processed in the group Claverie, Soldera and Huneault, polyacrylamides prepared in the group Zhao, polyesters processed in the group Elkoun, and complex macromolecular architectures prepared in the group Harvey. No such instrument is currently present at UdS. With the recent arrival of the PI at UdS, acquisition of this instrument becomes ineluctable, as functional instruments able to withstand the volume of analysis required to support the research of the coPIs are not available in Canada. The urgency of the acquisition is reinforced by the fact that out of the two existing vendors, one will discontinue the HT-GPC line next year, putting the other one in a situation of monopoly. Beyond its significant impact on the research programs shown below, the instruments will be pivotal for the training efforts of HQPs associated to polymer science. As the instrument will be placed in an accessible facility, staffed with specifically trained personnel, we envision that a minimum of 80 HQPs will be using this HT-GPC.