Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

Triple detection Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) incorporating a Multi-Angle Laser Light Scattering (MALLS) detector is an important instrumentation for research on synthesis and characterization of polymers with tailor-designed chain architectures. The incorporated MALLS detector enables the matchless capability to accurately measure the absolute polymer molecular weight and distribution, polymer coil size and distribution, and many other important polymer structural properties. The funds are requested in this proposal to acquire a Wyatt miniDAWN MALLS detector for the establishment of a powerful triple-detection High-Temperature Gel Permeation Chromatography (HTGPC) system for the urgent need in Dr. Ye's research on chain architecture-controlled polyolefins. Dr. Ye currently has in his lab a Polymer Laboratory PL220 HTGPC system with a dual concentration and viscosity detector array. Owing to the lack of a MALLS detector, the capability and performance of the existing HTGPC system is significantly limited. Many important properties of polymers synthesized currently can not be fully and/or accurately characterized. The award of the requested detector will therefore tremendously boost the capability of the instrument and significantly help the successful progress of the research programs. The requested equipment is the first of its kind both at Laurentian University and in the region of Northern Ontario. Its acquisition is critical to the establishment of a cutting-edge polyolefin research field at Laurentian University and is important for the training and retention of high-qualified polymer researchers in the region of Northern Ontario and the rest of Canada.