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

This research tools and instruments application is for Gel Permeation Chromatographic (GPC) equipment to analyze novel polymers that are produced in the applicants laboratories. GPC is the most important method used in both industry and academic labs to evaluate the size (or molecular weight) of polymeric samples. Many of the properties of polymers are dependent on their size. Thus, every single polymerization experiment performed in a synthetic polymer laboratory requires an analysis of the final product by GPC. The applicants current instrument is relied upon by eight UBC research groups that collectively contains >50 HQP. The applicants current instrument contains failing components that are >10 years old and urgently need replacement. Due to the PI's expertise in the characterization of functional and inorganic polymers, he often runs samples for other groups across the country. The proposed acquisitions will result in a state-of-the-art GPC facility containing the latest technology for molecular weight determination. A delay in acquiring this equipment will seriously hinder progress on both fundamental and applied research projects being carried out in the co-applicants labs, most of which are supported by other NSERC grants and/or Canadian corporations. Given that GPC is a very important method for the polymer, plastics and rubber industry, exposure to such instrumentation forms a critical component in the training of HQP in polymer chemistry. Furthermore, GPC is analogous to size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) which is commonly used to evaluate large biological molecules. Therefore, the skills obtained with this equipment in our labs will be transferable to their future careers in government, industry or academia whether in Canada or elsewhere.