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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M47522/01
Title: A NEW APPROACH TO PROCESSIBLE RIGID ROD POLYMERS AND MOLECULAR COMPOSITES
Principal Investigator: Hay, Professor J
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
ICI Kings College London Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of Surrey
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 June 1999 Ends: 31 May 2002 Value (£): 153,444
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Chemicals
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The research programme aims to develop a unique route to rigid rod polymers and molecular composites. Novel indazolone and pyrazolone derivatives will be synthesised as monomers for the preparation of selected polyamides and copolymers. The heterocyclic units undergo thermal rearrangement to rigid tetracyclic species, thus providing a potentially facile route for the conversion of processible polyamides into intractable rigid rod polymers. Polymers containing varying proportions of the heterocycle will be synthesised and characterised. The rearrangement reaction will be studied in detail to determine optimum conditions for the conversion. The precursor polymers will be converted to the rearranged products, which will be characterised fully. Testing of films of the precursor and rigid rod polymers will be undertaken to determine mechanical properties. Preliminary studies will be undertaken on molecular composites. Precursor copolymers will be mixed with a structurally similar poly (amide, imide) matrix to produce miscible blends which will be heated to induce thermal rearrangement in situ. The morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the precursor blends and molecular composite products will be evaluated to assess the success of this approach. Optimisation will be carried out as necessary.
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Organisation Website: http://www.surrey.ac.uk