HPLC-Kopplung mit Gelpermeationschromatographie

• Subject Area: Polymerforschung
• Term: Funded in 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 101086951

The group of Prof. Barner-Kowollik – who is in the process of moving with his team to Karlsruhe University – is employing living free radical polymerization techniques aimed at the generation of complex star polymer structures in conjunction with variable conjugation protocols (e.g. click chemistry). A particular focus lies on the use of reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) chemistry and its applicability for the formation of block linear, star, comb and palmtree polymer structures. Other approaches to specific and well-defined polymer structures employed in the Barner-Kowollik group include the use of macromonomers, which are convenient macromolecular building blocks. Currently, the above mentioned block copolymer structures are being assessed via conventional size exclusion chromatography, which is current practice in many research laboratories. The requested 2D HPLC/SEC coupled chromatography system will enable us to assess the chemical distribution as well as molecular weight distribution of the generated block copolymers. Such an assessment is crucial for a judgement of the performance of a particular controlling agent or particular conjugation protocol, as for many applications in which these block polymers are to be employed (e.g. as amphiphilic block copolymers in selfassemblies in solution and/or the solid state) both a high chemical as well as distribution uniformity are essential. Thus, at the core of the current instrument proposal lies the necessity to establish how uniform the generated complex block copolymer structures are, with the aim of optimizing and further understanding their formation processes. Part of the current proposal is the group of Prof. Manfred Wilhelm at the same institute, who will also employ the instrument for the analysis of their block polymer prepared via anionic polymerization processes. The 2D HPLC/SEC chromatography instrument will be purely employed for research purposes (100 %).

• DFG Programme: Forschungsgroßgeräte
• Instrumentation Group: 1350 Flüssigkeits-Chromatographen (außer Aminosäureanalysatoren 317), Ionenaustauscher
• Antragstellende Institution: Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) ; Campus Süd (aufgelöst)
• Leiter: Professor Dr. Christopher Barner-Kowollik