NSF: Molecular Engineering of Polymers for Processing Performance and Properties

为了设计符合所需加工性能的聚合物链分子结构，需要高度跨学科的努力，包括实验和理论流变学、聚合物加工、聚合动力学和催化剂以及聚合物合成和表征方面的专家（这些专业知识在任何一个地方都找不到）。来自两所美国大学的科学家（拥有非线性流变学、聚合物加工和阴离子合成方面的专业知识）将与来自七所英国大学和一所荷兰大学的科学家联手研究这个问题。研究工作将利用利兹大学的微尺度聚合物加工（MuPP）联盟，主要来自利兹大学（分子流变学，反应动力学）和达勒姆大学（阴离子化学）。伦敦帝国理工学院（Imperial College, London）的研究小组正在加入这一合作项目，他们在为定制分子结构开发聚合催化剂方面拥有专业知识。方法是使用模型系统来建立流变标准，通过该标准来识别商业生产的聚乙烯中存在的结构，然后开发聚合动力学，分子结构和加工性能之间的相关性。

To design the molecular architecture of polymer chains for desired processing performance, a highly interdisciplinary effort will be required which incorporates experts in experimental and theoretical rheology, polymer processing, polymerization kinetics and catalysts, and polymer synthesis and characterization (this expertise cannot be found in any one location). Scientists from two U.S. universities (with expertise in non-linear rheology, polymer processing and anionic synthesis) will join forces with scientists from seven English universites and one from Holland to attack this problem. The research effort will capitalize on the Leeds-based Microscale Polymer Processing (MuPP) consortium with main contributions from Leeds (molecular rheology, reaction kinetics), Durham (anionic chemistry). The group at Imperial College, London is joining this co-operative programme with expertise in polymerization catalyst development for tailored molecular structure. The approach is to use model systems to establish a rheological standard by which to identify the structures present in commercially produced PE's and then develop correlations between polymerization kinetics, molecular architecture and processing performance.