Acquisition of State-of-the-Art Size Exclusion Chromatography/Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering (SEC/MALLS) Instrumentation

9802853 Mays该奖项是对购买最先进的尺寸排除层析(SEC)仪器的奖励，该仪器用于表征阿拉巴马大学伯明翰分校合成的聚合物。为了最大限度地利用这台仪器准确、快速地表征各种合成材料，我们将为该仪器配备卓越的流速稳定性和多个检测器：折射率、紫外线(光电二极管阵列)和多角度激光光散射(MALLS)检测器。双浓度检测器在检测许多共聚物的组成变化时非常有用，而MALLS检测器可以在不依赖校准曲线的情况下确定绝对分子量(通常不提供与被分析聚合物相同类型的标准)。SEC/MALLS还允许测定聚合物的构象特征。结合使用MALLS检测器和我们实验室已有的差示粘度计，可以快速检测和量化聚合物中的长链支化。这些不同检测器的组合在我们的接枝共聚物工作中特别有用，这种接枝共聚物结合了共聚物的特性和支化。该项目支持先进的聚合物材料开发中使用的设备，从而利用可再生资源生产更好的涂料、更好的陶瓷、更轻、更快的电子产品和低成本的可生物降解塑料。它将通过学生的参与和培训将教育和研究结合起来，包括通过参加国家科学基金会少数群体参与计划的代表不足群体的学生。***

9802853 Mays This award is for the purchase of a state-of-the-art size exclusion chromatography (SEC) instrument for use in characterizing polymers that are synthesized at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. To maximize the utility of this instrument for accurately and rapidly characterizing a wide range of synthetic materials, we will equip the instrument with superior flow rate stability and with multiple detectors: refractive index, ultraviolet (photodiode array), and multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS) detectors. The dual concentration detectors are useful in examining compositional variations in many copolymers, while the MALLS detector allows determination of absolute molecular weights without reliance on calibration curves (standards of the same type as the polymer being analyzed are often not available). SEC/MALLS also allows conformational characteristics of polymers to be determined. Use of the MALLS detector along with the differential viscometer that is already available in our laboratory will allow for rapid detection and quantification of long chain branching in polymers. The combination of these various detectors is especially useful in our work with graft copolymers, which combine copolymer character with branching. %%% This project supports equipment used in the development of advanced polymeric materials leading to better paints, improved ceramics, lighter faster electronics, and low cost biodegradable plastics from renewable resources. It will involve the integration of education and research through the participation and training of students, including students from under represented groups through participation in the NSF Alliance for Minority Participation Program. * * *