Design and synthesis of functional polymer colloids

包括表面涂层、纳米技术、微电子和健康科学在内的若干领域的科学和技术进步越来越依赖于发现制造先进材料的创新途径。从社会和经济角度来看，能够以最小的环境影响生产这些材料是一个重要的考虑因素。 这项研究涉及设计具有精心控制的微观结构的聚合物胶体（分散在水中的纳米级聚合物颗粒），使其适合作为先进材料的构建块。微观结构是指原子在较大分子中的排列方式。改进材料微观结构的控制使材料科学家或工程师能够针对特定应用定制材料特性，以提供增强的性能。部分研究将寻求开发一种使用目前在水基分散体中不常见的化学类型（ROMP或开环易位聚合）制造聚合物胶体的工艺。这将使我们能够极大地扩展可在水基分散体中制成纳米颗粒形式的聚合物的范围。研究的另一个阶段涉及制造刺激响应或“智能”聚合物胶体，这些胶体可以形成能够通过改变颜色来响应机械应力的涂层。当结构的一部分或组件经历严重的冲击或应力时，这种涂层可以提供视觉指示。研究的最后一部分涉及使用一种称为“受控自由基聚合”的创新化学方法来设计聚合物颗粒，其中分子特性可以被控制和定制到比现有技术更大的程度，使用环境友好的无溶剂工艺。 这可能会导致新的，先进的产品，并改善现有的产品，用于各种应用，包括成熟的行业，如涂料，油漆和粘合剂，但也在新兴行业。

Scientific and technological progress in several fields, including surface coatings, nanotechnology, microelectronics and the health sciences, is increasingly dependent on discovering innovative routes to making advanced materials. Being able to produce these materials with minimal environmental impact is an important consideration, from both societal and economic perspectives. This research involves the design of polymer colloids (nano-size polymer particles dispersed in water) with carefully controlled microstructure that makes them suitable as building blocks for advanced materials. Microstructure refers to the manner in which atoms are arranged within larger molecules. Improved control of a material's microstructure allows the material scientist or engineer to custom tailor the material properties for specific applications to deliver enhanced performance. Part of the research will seek to develop a process for making polymer colloids using a type of chemistry (ROMP, or Ring Opening Metathesis Polymerization) not currently common in water-based dispersions. This will allow us to greatly expand the range of polymers that can be made into nanoparticle form in water-based dispersions. Another phase of the research involves making stimuli-responsive, or "smart", polymer colloids that could form coatings capable of responding to mechanical stresses by changing colour. Such a coating could provide a visual indication when a part or component of a structure has experienced a severe impact or stress. The final part of the research involves using an innovative chemistry known as "Controlled Radical Polymerization" to design polymer particles in which the molecular properties can be controlled and tailored to a much greater degree than is possible using current technology, using an environmentally-friendly, solvent-free process. This could lead to new, advanced products and improve existing products for a variety of applications, including established industries such as coatings, paints and adhesives but also in emerging industries.