Issues in multicomponent polymerizations polymeric sensor development

拟议的研究计划的总体目标是使用聚合物反应工程工具，以“时尚”聚合物的性能，并在聚合物产品的设计和优化援助。 换句话说，基于我们在聚合物工艺工程方面的长期经验，我们正在努力生产具有所需性能的聚合物（聚合物改性和优化）。 这些所需的性能包括微分子（微观结构）和化学/机械（最终用途）性能。 因此，拟议的计划涉及基础和应用研究。 将在以下方面进行研究：（1）多组分聚合动力学和竞聚率估算，这是我们在国际上的专家研究领域，在重要聚合体系的关键反应性参数估算（学术和工业）方面具有独特的地位;（2）开发新型聚合物传感器，用于检测有毒分析物（挥发性有机化合物）。这对我们来说是一个新的研究方向，但这将在很大程度上依赖于过去对聚合物性能改性的专业知识。我们将与系统设计和电气工程师合作，开发一系列处方，使人们能够将适当的聚合物与特定的化学品“匹配”（这就是这项工作与过去高度专业化的一次性尝试的区别）。 所有上述研究领域都代表了非常复杂的问题，在加拿大是独一无二的，从学术和商业的角度来看都非常重要。 由于它们跨越跨学科的界限（化学工程，化学，材料特性，传感器开发，微型化，系统设计/电气/纳米/聚合物工程），它们非常适合研究生培训，并扩大我们的知识经济。

The general objectives of the proposed research program are to use polymer reaction engineering tools in order to "fashion" polymer properties and aid in polymer product design and optimization. In other words, based on our long-term experience in polymer process engineering, we are trying to produce polymers with desired properties (polymer modification and optimization). These desired properties include both micro-molecular (micro-structural) and chemical/mechanical (end-use) properties. As such, the proposed program deals with both fundamental and applied research. Research will be pursued in: (1) Multicomponent polymerization kinetics and reactivity ratio estimation, an area of research that we are experts internationally and in a unique position to make further contributions on the estimation of key reactivity parameters of important polymerization systems (both academically and industrially); (2) Development of novel polymeric sensors for the detection of toxic analytes (volatile organic compounds). This is a new direction of research for us, but one that will rely heavily on past expertise with polymer property modification. In collaboration with Systems Design and Electrical engineers, we will develop a series of prescriptions which will enable one to 'match' appropriate polymers to a specific chemical (and that is what differentiates this work from past efforts that are highly specialized, one-shot, attempts). All of the above research areas represent very complex problems, are unique in Canada, and are extremely significant from both academic and commercial standpoints. Since they cross interdisciplinary boundaries (Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, material properties, sensor development, miniaturization, Systems Design/ Electrical/ Nano-/ Polymer Engineering), they are very appropriate for graduate student training, and for expanding our knowledge-based economy.