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17 Jun 2002
A researcher at Michigan Technological University has found a way to control polymer reactions and permit scientists to create tailor-made polymeric materials withunique properties. The developmentcould facilitate the manufacture of valuable new commercial products.
Polymers are formed when chemical compounds combine with one another in a process called polymerization to form larger molecules, according to Dr. GerardCaneba of Michigan Tech's Department of Chemical Engineering.
"We've been studying chain-reaction polymerization systems, which are prone to a runaway situation called the Gel Effect," says Caneba. "This happens whenincreasing temperatures cause the chemical reaction to go out of control, usually rendering the end product useless. We found that by adding atype of dilutent we canslow the reaction, gain control of the polymerization process and control the properties of specific polymer products. This allows us to engineer certain polymers tohave unique and desirable properties. From a process standpoint, it allows higher-yield production of polymeric materialsnormally made in solution."
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