Smart Polymeric Materials:
Dutch Polymer Research
Martien Cohen Stuart
IA seminar12 december 2012, The Hague
Pioneers of polymer research in The Netherlands (1960 - ….)
Companies: AKU cellulosics; fibres, resins DSM coal-derived chemistry: olefines polyolefines PE, PP
nitrogen binding: caprolactam polyamidesDOW GE various engineering plasticsWAVIN (PVC) processing
Universities: Leiden (Staverman, Hermans)Delft (Janeschietz-Kriegl, van der Vegt)Groningen (Challa, Pennings)Eindhoven (Heikens, German, Lemstra)Twente (Feijen, Smolders, Noordermeer)
Polymer chemistry & physics in the polder
1997:
launch of the ‘Dutch Polymer Institute’
for public-private collaboration in polymer science
(initiative Hans Wijers, minister of Economic Affairs)
From science to market:
Chemical R&D timeframes Industrial R&D
University
Business <3 months
3 months-2 years
2-5 years
DPI
Dutch Polymer Institute
5-10 years
>10 years
DPI: ‘Leading Technology Institute’
Missions
•To fill the gap in the Dutch knowledge infrastructure
•To operate at the interface between academia and industry
•To become a key instrument for innovation
The art of connecting….
Government
Universities
Industry Society
The art of connecting….
Government
UniversitiesIndustry
Society
Industrial partners2011
Academic partners2012
How does it work?
…bringing academia and industry together…..
$$$$$$$$$$
E = mc2
Participation InfrastructureInnovation budget
Portfolio 2012
Technology areas
•Functional Polymer Systems & Large-Area Thin-Film
Electronics
•Polyolefins
•Performance Polymers
•Coatings Technology
•Bio-Inspired Polymers
•Emerging Technologies: polymers for EOR
High-Throughput Experimentation
Corporate Research
Functional Polymer Systems
Largest area
Research topics:
conducting & light emitting polymer systems
OLEDs, organic solar cells
polymer systems with switching and actuation properties
Lighting and electronics
Globally leading research: Eindhoven, Delft, Groningen fast developments,
‘hot’ field
Side-chain Liquid Crystalline polymers
Light-induced shape and optical changes
display technology
Actuators, artificial flagella, surface morphology switching
Very innovative field (Eindhoven)
Polyolefines
2nd largest area; all major players participate
Mainly research on new catalysts and catalyticcontrol of material properties
Major breakthrough: unentangled UHMPE
New: mixed catalyst systems for controlled microstructure
Performance Polymers
Large area; many global players participate
Elastomers; engineering plastics
Research on processing & performance:
Toughness, fracturing, friction & wear, composites,
processing technology
Building and construction
Liquid Crystal Thermosets for Structural Materials
• Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) were recognized and introduced in
the 70’s:
+ excellent barrier properties (He, O2, H2O uptake < 0.03%)
+ high strength/stiffness
+ outstanding solvent resistance (Skydrol, jet fuel etc.)
+ low CTE, low mold shrinkage (V0 rating, also used in ablative
applications)
• The first generation LCPs had such properties
but were very difficult, if not impossible, to process.
CN
H O
n
poly(iminocarbonyl-1,4-phenylene)
Lyotropic, Tm>> 500 oC
CO
O
n
poly(oxy-1,4-phenylenecarbonyl)
"Thermotropic", Tm>> 500 oC
The challenge: how to make these intractable polymers tractable?
Good propertiesbut intractable
tractablebut poor properties
The solution: The solution:
use oligomers with (latent) reactive endgroups use oligomers with (latent) reactive endgroups
(Telechelic Oligomers)(Telechelic Oligomers)
PETI-5
1. Before cure: LC thermoplast
2. After cure: LC thermosetwith excellent performance High T organic materials
Solar cellsGas separation membranes
Space durability tests (MISSE 2005-2009)
Prof. Theo Dingemans
DPI fellow 2011
Coatings technology
Vital area, many participants, often market leaders
A diverse field, physics & chemistry:
(Sustainable) esin chemistry
Drying of water borne dispersions
Thickeners
Weathering chemistry
Corrosion protection
.......
Alkyd emulsion drying
crystallization
deformation
coalescence
Fresh paint
dry paint
?
(a) (b) (c)
(d) (f)(e)
Microscopic observations
two modes of coalescenceHigh [emulsifier]
Low [emulsifier]
‘top down’
‘random’
resinresin
resin resin
Marine coatings: sustainable biofouling control
Developing research field; very challenging
Bio-inspired Polymers
Developing field
sustainability & biomedical applications
New bio-based monomers
Enzymatic polymersation technology
Biosynthetic aminoacid polymers
Polysaccharide research
‘Bio Related Materials’ Programme (together with FOM and TIFN)
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AND COLLOID SCIENCE
Rational Design of Block Copolypeptides
C -SQ -K144 12 Triblocks
Molecular Biomimetics
Diblocks
++++ + + +++++
++++ + + +++++
-Binding of single DNA molecules- Reassembling cylindrical viruses
Hernandez-Garcia, Et. al. Small, 2012
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AND COLLOID SCIENCE
Mechanism of DNA Packing
Highly organized virus-like nanorod structures
2.5 kbp DNAScale is 780, 780, 625, 500 & 500 nm (left to right)
8 kbp2.5 kbp
Frustrations on packing
2.5 kbp
Time, concentration, salt…(pH, temperature)
More than one “growing” point
C -SQ -K104 12
Emerging: water soluble polymers for EOR
New area (2 participants)
development of water soluble polymersfor oil & gas industry
High throughput Experimentation
An extensive platform of
advanced equipment for
high throughput research
of new polymeric materials:
// synthesis, molecular characterization, phase behaviour
mixing & compounding, spotting
Corporate Research
Explorative research on new directions in polymer science
(thematic calls)
AND
Enabling technology (theory & simulation, polymer
characterization, chromatography,
neutron & synchrotron experiments)
DPI: workforce
Output (articles) Impact (citations)
Output and impact of DPI: web-of-science
start
Scientific quality: DPI Journal Impact Factor
Normalized impact Dutch chemical research:the highest in the world: 1.53
Steady improvement
Increasing internationalisationNew collaborations
European consortia
- CompNanoComp: Multiscale computational approach
for design of polymer-matrix nanocomposites
- SHINE: Self-Healing Innovative Elastomers
Other proposals in preparation
Outside Europe
• Brasil
- Collaboration between CNPq, TU/e and DPI
- seven projects; start January 2013
• China
- Programme within Coatings Technology and Bio-Inspired
Polymers
- approximately ten PhDs; start early 2013
DPI: quo vadis?
• New Dutch innovation policy (topsectoren) starting....
• Companies shift to new markets & activities
• Polymers remain important for Dutch economy
• Many creative polymer scientists in Dutch academia:
Groningen (Hermann, Loos)
Twente (Vancso)
Delft (Dingemans)
Eindhoven (Meijer, Huetter, Wyss, Noordover, van der Schoot)
Wageningen (Kamperman, Sprakel)
DPI strives to be(come)
worldwide connected polymer centre of excellence