Polymerization Mechanism and Kinetics of 1,1-Disubstituted Monomers. This project focuses on two exciting research areas: (I) we have found that an oxygen atom b to the double bond activates radical polymerization, making a whole new family of polymeric structures accessible, and (II) we have strong preliminary data that demonstrates a very large solvent effect on propagation and termination reactions for acrylic monomers with an a-CH2OH functionality, suggesting that significant control can be ....Polymerization Mechanism and Kinetics of 1,1-Disubstituted Monomers. This project focuses on two exciting research areas: (I) we have found that an oxygen atom b to the double bond activates radical polymerization, making a whole new family of polymeric structures accessible, and (II) we have strong preliminary data that demonstrates a very large solvent effect on propagation and termination reactions for acrylic monomers with an a-CH2OH functionality, suggesting that significant control can be exerted over the polymerization process using additives. Additionally, we demonstrate that polymers containing repeat units with an a-CH2OH functionality can undergo reversible cyclization, enabling a whole range of novel functional materials.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms in Catalytic Chain Transfer Polymerization. The aim of the proposed research is to gain more insight into the mechanisms underlying catalytic chain transfer polymerization, a relatively recent controlled radical polymerization technique which is finding an increasing number of industrial applications, especially in the paint and coatings industry. An improved understanding of the catalytic chain transfer process, of which some very important features are still poorly understood, will ....Mechanisms in Catalytic Chain Transfer Polymerization. The aim of the proposed research is to gain more insight into the mechanisms underlying catalytic chain transfer polymerization, a relatively recent controlled radical polymerization technique which is finding an increasing number of industrial applications, especially in the paint and coatings industry. An improved understanding of the catalytic chain transfer process, of which some very important features are still poorly understood, will ultimately lead to better catalyst design and improved process and product control. This in turn will lead to novel polymeric materials.Read moreRead less
Branching in acrylic polymers: analysis and mechanistic understanding. Some polymers can be branched. This branching has major effects on the end-product performance of a polymer, for example in adhesives and the flexibility of rubbery materials. Full quantification of this branching (the lengths of branches and the rates of the processes that create them) has been impossible hitherto. Two new complementary techniques, a new analytical method developed by the applicant Fellow in Paris, and a new ....Branching in acrylic polymers: analysis and mechanistic understanding. Some polymers can be branched. This branching has major effects on the end-product performance of a polymer, for example in adhesives and the flexibility of rubbery materials. Full quantification of this branching (the lengths of branches and the rates of the processes that create them) has been impossible hitherto. Two new complementary techniques, a new analytical method developed by the applicant Fellow in Paris, and a new synthesis technique developed in Sydney, will be used as the platforms to devise the first means of determining this information and thus understanding and quantifying branching.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of nanocomposite polymers with targeted properties. This project aims to synthesise novel nanocomposite polymers by living radical polymerisation in water and to understand the way polymer microstructure and nanomorphology control material properties. This will provide the enabling science so that nanomaterials with targeted properties can be tailor-made for biomedical and speciality-coatings applications, and thus dispense with the current trial-and-error methodology. The innovations ....Synthesis of nanocomposite polymers with targeted properties. This project aims to synthesise novel nanocomposite polymers by living radical polymerisation in water and to understand the way polymer microstructure and nanomorphology control material properties. This will provide the enabling science so that nanomaterials with targeted properties can be tailor-made for biomedical and speciality-coatings applications, and thus dispense with the current trial-and-error methodology. The innovations in this project are the novel synthesis of complex polymer architectures in water, and the first quantitative and qualitative structure-property correlations for such materials. This will also result in a deepened understanding of the mechanisms governing the formation of these nanocomposites.Read moreRead less
New-generation starch-based paper coatings. This project is to make a new hybrid biomaterial which encapsulates starch in a synthetic polymer latex for use in paper manufacture. A novel process has been devised for this by the parties. This project is the fundamental research and development needed to turn successful preliminary experiments into commercial reality; it involves a unique combination of cereal and polymer scientists and paper technologists. The product has the potential to set up a ....New-generation starch-based paper coatings. This project is to make a new hybrid biomaterial which encapsulates starch in a synthetic polymer latex for use in paper manufacture. A novel process has been devised for this by the parties. This project is the fundamental research and development needed to turn successful preliminary experiments into commercial reality; it involves a unique combination of cereal and polymer scientists and paper technologists. The product has the potential to set up a new industry to use starch from Australian cereal grains to replace imports and create new markets, as well as reducing environmental problems from paper manufacture.Read moreRead less
Design of Polymeric Devices for Biotechnological Applications. The research project focuses on the development of functional polymer particles for diagnostic applications. Advanced polymer chemistry will be used to synthesize devices for reliable and fast diagnostic systems. The outcome of this work will help promoting and maintaining good health in Australia by developing novel technologies and advanced materials based on polymer science.
Novel barrier products: synthesis design using controlled radical polymerization in dispersed systems. Personal barrier products (eg surgical and industrial rubber gloves) are currently manufactured using emulsion polymerization synthesis methods that have evolved little in 50 years. A dramatic new method for controlling polymer architecture, developed by a team led by the CI and Dulux for paints, also has the potential to tailor-make barrier products, from less hazardous raw materials. This pro ....Novel barrier products: synthesis design using controlled radical polymerization in dispersed systems. Personal barrier products (eg surgical and industrial rubber gloves) are currently manufactured using emulsion polymerization synthesis methods that have evolved little in 50 years. A dramatic new method for controlling polymer architecture, developed by a team led by the CI and Dulux for paints, also has the potential to tailor-make barrier products, from less hazardous raw materials. This project commences the fundamental research for understanding the mechanisms involved in using this method with butadiene, and the mechanical properties of the resulting novel block copolymers. This science would later be applied by the industrial partner to significantly improve their barrier products.Read moreRead less
Surface engineering of oriented nano-layers for performance control. This research project will deliver knowledge on how to graft oriented, self assembled films from a surface, develop structure-property relationships at a nano-scale, develop a means to control these properties and develop characterization techniques at nano-scales. This research project, if successful, will deliver the ability to tailor the properties of a surface in a manner and over a range of properties that is not even cont ....Surface engineering of oriented nano-layers for performance control. This research project will deliver knowledge on how to graft oriented, self assembled films from a surface, develop structure-property relationships at a nano-scale, develop a means to control these properties and develop characterization techniques at nano-scales. This research project, if successful, will deliver the ability to tailor the properties of a surface in a manner and over a range of properties that is not even contemplated today.
In addition to the scientific benefits, there are also immediate commercial applications in Australia and worldwide for ophthalmic products (e.g. anti-fog and easy to clean lenses), if the balance of properties can be obtained.
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Rubbery nanoparticles for improved plastics, additives and adhesives through novel low-temperature polymerization. This project will create the enabling science for producing better pressure-sensitive adhesives, leather treatment, bitumen additives and engineering plastics, by the first-ever synthesis of acrylic latex at low temperatures. This will allow certain reaction processes to predominate that will result in molecular architectures that are very different from those currently made. The re ....Rubbery nanoparticles for improved plastics, additives and adhesives through novel low-temperature polymerization. This project will create the enabling science for producing better pressure-sensitive adhesives, leather treatment, bitumen additives and engineering plastics, by the first-ever synthesis of acrylic latex at low temperatures. This will allow certain reaction processes to predominate that will result in molecular architectures that are very different from those currently made. The result will be enhanced material properties, such as better-wearing leather coatings, greater scratch and shock resistance in vehicle and domestic plastics (with reduced environmental insult in manufacture and usage), improved endurance for bitumen road surfaces, and layered packaging that needs less adhesive per unit of strength.Read moreRead less
Controlled/living radical polymerization in environmentally friendly miniemulsions induced by compressed carbon dioxide for synthesis of nanoparticles and well-defined polymer. Controlled/living radical polymerization is a technique for precise synthesis of polymer by radical polymerization, which has revolutionized polymer synthesis in terms of accessible polymer structures. However, controlled/living radical polymerization has yet to gain a strong foothold in industry mainly due to problems as ....Controlled/living radical polymerization in environmentally friendly miniemulsions induced by compressed carbon dioxide for synthesis of nanoparticles and well-defined polymer. Controlled/living radical polymerization is a technique for precise synthesis of polymer by radical polymerization, which has revolutionized polymer synthesis in terms of accessible polymer structures. However, controlled/living radical polymerization has yet to gain a strong foothold in industry mainly due to problems associated with its implementation in (aqueous) dispersed systems. The present Proposal addresses this key challenge by a novel environmentally friendly and versatile method for aqueous miniemulsion preparation by use of compressed carbon dioxide. Controlled/living radical polymerization in dispersed systems generates polymeric nanoparticles, which are of importance in many advanced and emerging technologies.Read moreRead less