New Terpene Based Polymers
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry
Abstract
This project will create a completely new range of polymers derived directly from terpenes: natural products that are readily available from waste streams including food, forestry and agriculture, and in the future will be produced in very significant volumes from biomass through industrial biotechnology routes
Our initial proof of concept data show significant promise and we have created a range of 16 terpene-based acrylate and methacrylate monomers that can then be polymerised into high molecular weight polymers with excellent control of molecular weight and end-group fidelity. This project is focused on demonstrating facile formation of a range of new and valuable polymers and control control of key structure property relationships
The new terpene acrylate and methacrylate monomers provide an opportunity to create a gradation of properties, tailored to move from "soft" to "hard blocks". This is the fundamental design principle behind the thermoplastic elastomers upon which society now relies heavily for structured materials; from hair care to shoe soles, and acrylic bathtubs to car suspension bushes. A key target will be to understand the structure-property relationships for a range of statistical, block and tapered copolymers that we wil synthesise and manipulate and control their mechanical properties through optimisation,
Our initial proof of concept data show significant promise and we have created a range of 16 terpene-based acrylate and methacrylate monomers that can then be polymerised into high molecular weight polymers with excellent control of molecular weight and end-group fidelity. This project is focused on demonstrating facile formation of a range of new and valuable polymers and control control of key structure property relationships
The new terpene acrylate and methacrylate monomers provide an opportunity to create a gradation of properties, tailored to move from "soft" to "hard blocks". This is the fundamental design principle behind the thermoplastic elastomers upon which society now relies heavily for structured materials; from hair care to shoe soles, and acrylic bathtubs to car suspension bushes. A key target will be to understand the structure-property relationships for a range of statistical, block and tapered copolymers that we wil synthesise and manipulate and control their mechanical properties through optimisation,
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1833700 | Studentship | EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2019 | Rachel Atkinson |
| Description | I have synthesised a range of renewably-sourced polymers made from terpenes, and developed these into hard-soft block copolymer materials that could have applications as thermoplastic elastomers. I have presented this research at a number of conferences including the international conference Macro 2018 ( World Polymer Congress) in Cairns, Australia. I will also present at the American Chemical Society meeting in Orlando, Florida in April 2019. |
| Exploitation Route | I will continue to develop my findings myself until the award finishes. After this, the findings can be taken forward by future group members and potentially collaboration with industry to further develop and scale up this research. |
| Sectors | Chemicals |
| Description | D. H. Richards Bursary |
| Amount | £500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Macro Group UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | Graduate School Travel Prize |
| Amount | £600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Nottingham |
| Department | University of Nottingham Graduate School |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | Messel Travel Bursary |
| Amount | £850 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Society of Chemical Industry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | RSC Travel Grant |
| Amount | £780 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Royal Society of Chemistry |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 04/2019 |
| Description | Small Angle X-Ray Scattering Investigation of Block Copolymers |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I have synthesised a range of renewably-sourced diblock and triblock copolymers, with hard and soft phase-separated regions and sent them to a collaborator at the University of Aston to carry out SAXS measurements. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The collaborator has carried out SAXS measurements, collected data and returned it. This data has been used to improve my work. |
| Impact | SAXS results have been obtained showing phase separation behaviour of block copolymers. |
| Start Year | 2018 |