Pro-Fluorescent Aryl Nitroxides: New Probes for Polymer Lifetime and Kinetics Research. Internal aryl rings present in novel probes developed for this project impart fluorescence which is efficiently and internally quenched by the presence of a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Scavenging of radicals by the nitroxide however "switches on" the fluorescence and this enables powerful new fluorescence-based detection levels for the technique of nitroxide free radical scavenging. Such sensitivity is a ....Pro-Fluorescent Aryl Nitroxides: New Probes for Polymer Lifetime and Kinetics Research. Internal aryl rings present in novel probes developed for this project impart fluorescence which is efficiently and internally quenched by the presence of a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Scavenging of radicals by the nitroxide however "switches on" the fluorescence and this enables powerful new fluorescence-based detection levels for the technique of nitroxide free radical scavenging. Such sensitivity is applicable to polymerization kinetics studies, as well as providing new means for the determination of materials lifetimes. The development of pro-fluorescent markers as indicators for polymer degradation would be a significant outcome for materials where component failure has a major negative impact.Read moreRead less
Defining Polymer Structures in Radical Polymerization Systems: Chain Birth, Chain Growth and Complex Macromolecular Architectures. The project underpins and extends Australia's leading position in the development and application of novel methods to generate advanced polymeric materials. By carefully studying the reaction pathways underpinning the polymerization processes, an in-depth picture of the polymerization is obtained. The research outcomes will strongly benefit the preparation of the com ....Defining Polymer Structures in Radical Polymerization Systems: Chain Birth, Chain Growth and Complex Macromolecular Architectures. The project underpins and extends Australia's leading position in the development and application of novel methods to generate advanced polymeric materials. By carefully studying the reaction pathways underpinning the polymerization processes, an in-depth picture of the polymerization is obtained. The research outcomes will strongly benefit the preparation of the coming generations of intelligent polymer materials of a highly controlled structure, responsive to their environment, with an even broader range of applications than existing polymers. In addition, the project has a substantial educational component providing training embedded in cutting polymer science for several honours and 1 PhD student.Read moreRead less
Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Free Radical Copolymerizations of Various Monomers. The proposed project will investigate the structure and properties of statistical copolymers prepared via living free radical polymerization. We will study the characteristics of a wide variety of Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) copolymerizations using a range of monomers, including those interesting for biomedical and material science applications. We expect to gai ....Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Free Radical Copolymerizations of Various Monomers. The proposed project will investigate the structure and properties of statistical copolymers prepared via living free radical polymerization. We will study the characteristics of a wide variety of Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) copolymerizations using a range of monomers, including those interesting for biomedical and material science applications. We expect to gain a deeper understanding of the influence of the RAFT process on the kinetics and mechanism of copolymerization and the properties of the resulting polymers in order to tailor specific polymer materials for biomedial applications.Read moreRead less
Accessing Chain Length Dependent Rate Coefficients in Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerisations. The proposed project combines two exciting research areas, namely the chain length dependencies of kinetic coefficients and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisations. The starting point of the project will be a novel technique recently invented by our team for termination rate measurement utilizing the RAFT process. Detailed knowledge of cha ....Accessing Chain Length Dependent Rate Coefficients in Reversible Addition Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) Polymerisations. The proposed project combines two exciting research areas, namely the chain length dependencies of kinetic coefficients and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisations. The starting point of the project will be a novel technique recently invented by our team for termination rate measurement utilizing the RAFT process. Detailed knowledge of chain length dependent rate coefficients in both homo- and copolymerisations is essential from both an academic and industrial perspective, because polymerisation kinetics not only govern the reaction rates but influence directly the polymeric material properties.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989946
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,000.00
Summary
High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation. The provision of high-resolution and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometers configured for the molecular and macromolecular research of high quality research groups will lead to earlier and better fundamental discoveries that are directed at important practical developments in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, light-energy harvesting, polymer materials and sensors. These include anti ....High Resolution LC/MS and MALDI for Molecular and Macromolecular Characterisation. The provision of high-resolution and matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometers configured for the molecular and macromolecular research of high quality research groups will lead to earlier and better fundamental discoveries that are directed at important practical developments in medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, light-energy harvesting, polymer materials and sensors. These include anticancer agents, nanodevices for drug delivery, better polymers with more energy efficient industrial processes, bioactive molecules for industrially important nitrogen fixation and many more. Read moreRead less
Blends of reactive plasticizers with thermoplastic composites for improved processing and properties. This proposal is directed at novel methods of enhancing the processibility, properties and applications of polymers and should have a significant economic impact on the $7 billion commodity polymer market for Australian polymer producers and polymer converters.
The project would also extend the research opportunities of students and researchers in the rapidly growing fields of nano-composites a ....Blends of reactive plasticizers with thermoplastic composites for improved processing and properties. This proposal is directed at novel methods of enhancing the processibility, properties and applications of polymers and should have a significant economic impact on the $7 billion commodity polymer market for Australian polymer producers and polymer converters.
The project would also extend the research opportunities of students and researchers in the rapidly growing fields of nano-composites and reactive polymer processing.Read moreRead less
Novel network polymers with photoinduced plasticity. The production of crosslinked polymers (thermosets and rubbers) is a multi-billion dollar industry and these polymers are irreplaceable in their use in numerous applications in the household goods, medical, electronics, automotive and construction industries. However, they shrink during solidification causing internal stresses which weaken them and they can not be reshaped, repaired or recycled. This study will develop a novel range of cros ....Novel network polymers with photoinduced plasticity. The production of crosslinked polymers (thermosets and rubbers) is a multi-billion dollar industry and these polymers are irreplaceable in their use in numerous applications in the household goods, medical, electronics, automotive and construction industries. However, they shrink during solidification causing internal stresses which weaken them and they can not be reshaped, repaired or recycled. This study will develop a novel range of crosslinkable polymers which can change shape on irradiation by light (or by heating) for use in applications ranging from repairable composites, stress-free lens, non-shrinking dental filling materials and light-sensitive actuators which will have significant benefit to industry.Read moreRead less
High efficiency photoinitiators for novel photopolymerization processes. The radiation curing industry is worth several billion dollars world-wide with an Australian market of ca. $100 million and an even greater market in the Asian region. One of the main factors controlling the expansion of this industry is the development of new photoinitiator systems with improved performance. This project aims to combine the skills of three leading scientists in the photocuring field to develop more efficie ....High efficiency photoinitiators for novel photopolymerization processes. The radiation curing industry is worth several billion dollars world-wide with an Australian market of ca. $100 million and an even greater market in the Asian region. One of the main factors controlling the expansion of this industry is the development of new photoinitiator systems with improved performance. This project aims to combine the skills of three leading scientists in the photocuring field to develop more efficient, environmentally-friendly systems by controlling the initiation and polymerization mechanisms in (meth)acrylate, cyclic ether, cyanate and vinyl ethers. This should benefit local manufacturers exporting into the printing, adhesive, dental, lithography, composite industries and to the photopolymer industry generally.Read moreRead less
New Fluorescent Probes to Elucidate Complex Oxidation Mechanisms. From medicine to manufacturing, polymers ("plastics") are a major component in the materials we use in our modern society, yet the manner by which they degrade and break down is often not well understood. Controlling the lifetime of polymers by either accelerating degradation on the one hand or preventing, or limiting, it on the other, will have significant benefits to society but this can only be achieved by reaching a thorough u ....New Fluorescent Probes to Elucidate Complex Oxidation Mechanisms. From medicine to manufacturing, polymers ("plastics") are a major component in the materials we use in our modern society, yet the manner by which they degrade and break down is often not well understood. Controlling the lifetime of polymers by either accelerating degradation on the one hand or preventing, or limiting, it on the other, will have significant benefits to society but this can only be achieved by reaching a thorough understanding of the degradation process. This project makes use of a unique, Australian-designed additive which stabilises polymeric materials, provides a marker for degradation levels and also provides information about the nature of the degradation processes occurring within polymers.Read moreRead less