This instrumentation will be used to support the polymer synthesis effort in the Polymers Program at Penn State University. The principal need is for GPC/light scattering equipment which allows a complete characterization of the molecular weight distribution of homopolymers and copolymers. Furthermore, this instrumentation also provides fundamental information concerning the molecular architecture of polymers. It is proposed to use the instrumentation as a central facility for the department and several groups will utilize it in their research. Amongst the projects that will be supported by this equipment are; a) The synthesis of novel polymer materials using boron chemistry b) the synthesis of cleavable linear, star, ring and cross-linked homopolymers and copolymers using anionic chemistry c) the synthesis of homopolymers and copolymers containing strongly interacting functional groups.
