This award supports cooperative research in polymer engineering to be conducted by Luis Garcia-Rubio of the University of South Florida and Gregorio Meira of the Institute for the Technological Development of the Chemical Industry (INTEC). Additional collaborators are from the National University of the South and the National University of Mar del Plata. The work will involve the further development of analytical procedures for polymers, copolymers and other complex systems. The method to be employed is size-exclusion chromatography used on line for the control of copolymerization reactors. Kinetic models for predicting property distribution in copolymers will be validated. This work will take advantage of the progress already being made by these scientists in the characterization of copolymers and complex polymer systems. The prospects for mutual benefit are strong since Prof. Rubio's forte is the specifically designed model copolymer systems which must be coupled with complex data analysis of the size-exclusion chromatograms which are the focus of Prof. Meira's work. The expertise of the participants is complementary. Real progress should result from the collaboration.
