Synthesis and Properties of Mechanically Interlocked Polymer Architectures
The MIPA network is an European Community funded TMR (Training and Mobility of Researchers) network, which starts 26th September 2000, and has a duration of four years.
| Project Aim | ||
| The aim of this
project is to exploit a simple, generally applicable methodology for
catenane (interlocked molecular rings) and rotaxane (rings locked onto a
molecular "thread" by bulky endgroups) synthesis to prepare
polymers (PMMA, PET, polycarbonates, polyurethanes, PES/PEEK etc)
possessing novel mechanically interlocked architectures and, for the first
time, perform a comprehensive investigation of the property/rheology
effects of this type of novel macromolecular topologies. |
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Switching surface properties - one potential application of a polycatenane |
| Project Objectives | ||
| The principle
objective of MIPA is to determine the structure-property effects of
introducing dynamic mechanical linkages into various polymer backbones.
Accordingly we have assembled a pre-competitive network of teams
(four academic, two industrially based) with expertise in (i) the
synthesis of mechanically interlocked monomers (Warwick),
(ii) the synthesis of specific polymer types (Warwick, Louvain, Catania, ICI, Philips) which are
suitable for incorporating into different types of mechanically
interlocked architectures (see Section
3), (iii) an extremely broad range of polymer characterisation and
property determining techniques, and (iv) theory and modeling studies (Bologna) which can bridge the gap between experimental results and
structure-property relationship to give a deep insight into the nature of
architectural influence in these materials. |
| Participants | |||
|
University of Warwick, UK
University of Louvain, B Universita di Bologna, I |
ICI plc, UK
Universita di Catania, I Philips, NL |