GOALI: Thermal Field-Flow Fractionation for Polymers of High Molecular Weight and Complex Architectures

科罗拉多矿业学院的Kim R. Williams教授和国家淀粉和化学公司的Thomas D. Hahn博士得到化学学部分析和表面化学项目的支持，研究热场流分馏（ThFFF）的基础和应用方面。将对模型聚合物进行广泛系统的研究，以确定聚合物组成、聚合物结构和溶剂对聚合物热扩散系数（DT）的影响。将使用回归方法来获得将DT与不同聚合物和溶剂性质联系起来的方程。从这些研究中获得的见解将有助于更好地理解热泳术、ThFFF和工业上重要的聚合物材料。利用多角度光散射-准弹性光散射-折射率-探测器组合测量thfff分离聚合物的分子量和结构信息。随着社会对专业产品需求的稳步增长，对具有不同性能要求的复杂聚合物和聚合物混合物的需求也在增加。将ThFFF发展到可以在商业上可行的混合级聚合物上进行分析的阶段将是分析技术的关键进步，这将影响这些产品的成本和消费者的可用性。该项目将训练学生掌握现代聚合物分析方法，并为他们提供与工业设施的科学家和技术人员互动的多种机会。

Professor Kim R. Williams of Colorado School of Mines and Dr. Thomas D. Hahn of National Starch and Chemical Company are supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry to investigate fundamental and applied aspects of thermal field-flow fractionation (ThFFF). An extensive systematic study will be conducted on model polymers to determine the effect of polymer composition, polymer architecture, and solvents on polymer thermal diffusion coefficients (DT). Regression methods will be used to obtain equations that relate DT to different polymer and solvent properties. Insights gained from these studies will lead to better understanding of thermophoresis, ThFFF, and industrially important polymer materials. Molecular weight and structural information of the ThFFF-separated polymers will be measured using a multiangle light scattering-quasielastic light scattering-refractive index-detector combination. The demand for complex polymers and polymer mixtures exhibiting diverse performance requirements increases with the steady increase in societal needs for specialized products. Development of ThFFF to a stage where analysis can be readily performed on commercially viable, mixed-class polymers will be a key analytical technology advancement, impacting both cost and availability of these products to the consumer. This project will train students in modern methods of polymer analysis and provide them with multiple opportunities to interact with scientists and technicians at an industrial facility.