Department of Chemical Engineering

POL

Industrial Polymers, Advanced Polymers and Technological Polymers :

imatge grup polimers 2The activities of this group focus on three lines of R&D, all of which are aimed at developing materials with advanced technical properties for use in new applications. This research includes synthesis or biosynthesis of polymers, their chemical and structural characterization and evaluation of their thermal and mechanical properties, and  the study of degradability.

Industrial polymers :

Principally aromatic polyesters (PET and PBT), polyurethanes and polyamides. We are working on optimization of industrial polymerization processes and development of new copolymers bio-based sustainable with improved environmental and technological properties.

Biodegradable polymers with biomedical aplications :

Synthesized from natural products, amino acids and carbohydrates. We prepare polyamides, polyesters, polyester amides, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and copolymers using easily accessible sugar derivatives, and evaluate their biodegradability and their ability to be used as scafolds or DDS.

Polymers produced by biosynthesis :

Synthesized from bacteria or fungi, specifically polyglutamic acid. This biopolymer is then modified for use in biomedical applications such as hydrogels or drug-delivery systems. 

Services for industry :

  • Synthesis of monomers, polymers and biopolymers.
  • Absolute determination of the molecular weight of polymers (GPC, Viscosimetry)
  • Chemical analysis, identification and composition of polymers, copolymers and alloys (FTIR, RMN)
  • Thermal analysis, crystallinity and crystallization of polymers (DSC, MOP)
  • Thermogravimetric analysis and thermal degradability of monomers and polymers (TGA)
  • Environmental degradability of polymers and plastics.
  • Structural characterization of polymers (RMN)
  • Study of mechanical properties of polymers and plastics.
  • Determination of particle sizes and potential Z (DLS)

Relevant equipment :

  • Synthesis laboratories with computerized reactors for high-temperature and pressure poly-condensation.
  • Microextruder Haake
  • Laboratory for studying polymer degradation.
  • GPC chromatographs connected to a light scattering system.
  • Automatic viscometer Anton-Paar.
  • HPLC
  • FTIR spectrophotometry with ATR and variable-temperature cell.
  • 300-MHZ NMR spectrometer for liquids and solids.
  • Optical microscope with thermal plate and image analysis.
  • DSC calorimeter with temperature modulation and TGA analytical thermal balance. 
  • Equipment for determining mechanical properties.
  • Equipment for determining of particle sizes and potential Z (DLS)

Contacts :

 

ANTXON MARTÍNEZ DE ILARDUIA

antxon.martinez.de.ilarduia

@upc.edu

Scientific output : 

https://futur.upc.edu/POL

Reactor de policondensació K.K Juchheim

K.K. Juchheim equipment for determining micromechanical properties