Urgent Replacement of Gel Permeation Chromatograph to Characterize Novel Polymers

我们迫切需要更换出现故障的凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)设备，该设备对于分析申请人实验室生产的新型聚合物至关重要。凝胶渗透色谱(GPC)是工业和学术实验室用来评估聚合物样品分子量(大小的衡量标准)的最重要的方法。聚合物的许多重要性质，如物理和机械性能，都依赖于分子量。它也是衡量聚合反应成功与否的有用指标，在聚合反应中，单体被转化为聚合物。因此，在合成聚合物实验室中进行的每一次聚合实验都需要通过GPC对最终产品进行分析。目前的仪器是由三个共同申请者(&gt；30 HQP)以及系内外的其他几个学术用户和行业用户所依赖的。由于PI在无机和有机金属聚合物表征方面的专业知识，他经常为加拿大各地的其他组织进行样品采集。*我们的聚合物表征设备中的当前仪器包含已使用10年且不再受供应商支持的故障组件。拟议中的收购将导致一个最先进的GPC设施，其中包含最新的分子量测定技术。如果延迟获得这种设备，将导致NSERC资助的合成新型功能聚合物的研究在现有设备出现故障时陷入停顿。如果没有GPC的连续访问，我们将不可能在以下方面发表我们的工作：(I)具有独特发射性能的功能性含磷聚合物的开发，(Ii)新型生物可降解塑料的合成，以及(Iii)具有显著粘附性和防腐蚀性的胺化聚合物的开发。鉴于GPC是一种对聚合物工业至关重要的方法，这种仪器的实践经验构成了我们集体实验室HQP培训的关键组成部分。此外，这种经验很容易被转移到大生物分子的分析中。因此，使用这种设备获得的技能适用于加拿大政府、工业或学术界的各种职业。

We urgently need to replace failing Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) equipment that is critical to analyze novel polymers that are produced in the applicants' laboratories.  GPC is the most important method used in both industry and academic labs to evaluate the molecular weight (a measure of size) of polymeric samples. Many important properties of polymers, such as their physical and mechanical properties, are dependent on the molecular weight. It also serves as a useful measure of the success of a polymerization reaction where monomers are converted to polymers. Thus, every single polymerization experiment performed in a synthetic polymer laboratory requires an analysis of the final product by GPC. The current instrumentation is relied upon by the groups of the three co-applicants (> 30 HQP) along with several other academic users both within and outside the department and industry users. Due to the PI's expertise in the characterization of inorganic and organometallic polymers, he often runs samples for other groups across Canada.  The current instrumentation in our Polymer Characterization Facility contains failing components that are 10 years old and will no longer be supported by the vendor. The proposed acquisition will result in a state-of-the-art GPC facility containing the latest technology for molecular weight determination. A delay in acquiring this equipment will cause the NSERC-funded research in the synthesis of novel functional polymers to grind to a halt if and when the existing equipment fails. Without continuous access to GPC, it will not be possible to publish our work in: (i) the development of functional phosphorus-containing polymers with unique emissive properties, (ii) the synthesis of novel biodegradable plastics, and (iii) the development of aminated polymers with remarkable adhesive and anti-corrosive properties. Given that GPC is a method critical to polymer industry, hands-on experience with this instrumentation forms a critical component in the training of HQP in our collective laboratories. In addition, this experience is easily transferrable to the analysis of large biological molecules. Thus, the skills obtained using this equipment is applicable to a wide range of careers in government, industry or academia in Canada.