AREAS OF EXPERTIES - DEPARTMENT OF APPLIED POLYMER CHEMISTRY AND PHISICS

Our Department forms a Joint Laboratory with the Laboratory of Plastics and Rubber Technology, Department of Physical Chemistry and Material Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

Degradation and stabilization of polymers

The effects determining the degradation and stability of polymers are studied on theoretical and applied research levels. The effects of processing and application conditions, as well as those of different additives and additive systems on the stability of polymers are investigated. Relationships are established between the chemical processes taking place during degradation and the changes in chemical, physical, rheological and mechanical characteristics of polymer. The chemical and physical parameters affecting the efficiency of additives are analyzed. Optimal additive compositions are developed to solve practical problems on the bases of conclusions drawn from theoretical studies. Partners: TVK, Clariant.

Structure-property correlation in heterogeneous polymer systems

Relationships among the type and amount of components, the component interactions and the properties of system are studied in different polymer blends and composites. The effects determining interactions, as well as their role in the characteristics of multicomponent systems are analyzed. The surface properties of polymers and fillers are investigated (contact angle measurement, inverse gas chromatography, FT-IR) to characterize interfacial interactions. The characteristics of composites are influenced by modification of filler surface. The micro- and macromechanical deformations and the factors influencing them are investigated. The scale of polymers, as well as the type and size of fillers change in a wide range: from conventional fillers (e.g., CaCO 3 , talk) to nanosize particles (e.g., SiO 2 , ZnO). Relationships between the structure of layered silicate nanocomposites and the competitive interactions are investigated. The study of polymer composites containing natural fillers (like sawdust) is also a part of the research. On the bases of general relationships obtained in basic research different compositions are developed for special purposes. Partners: TVK, Ongropack, Clopay, The University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, Inha University, Inchon, Korea, Polymer Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dunastyr Zrt., Airsec-Süd Chemie

Preparation of special polymers

The research can be divided into to parts: synthesis and chemical modification of polymers. In the field of polymer synthesis thermoplastic elastomers based on polyurethane are developed for medical purposes. The chemical modification of polymers ranges from polyolefin grafting with functional groups (e.g., modification with malein-anhydride) to modification of natural polymers (e.g., cellulose). Target applied research and development are based on basic research. Partners: Medical School, University of Pécs.

Crystallization and crystalline structure of polymers

Study of the crystallization of polyolefins and the effects influencing that has long tradition in the Joint Laboratory. Excellent results were achieved in the modification of the crystalline structure of isotactic polypropylene. Special additives are used to modify the morphology of polypropylene, which influence significantly the characteristics of polymer, e.g., transparency, mechanical strength, impact strength. Partners: InnoComp, TVK, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Borealis.

Special methods:

• Contact angle measurement
• Inverse gas chromatography
• Investigation of the deformation processes of polymer based systems (acoustic emission, volume strain)
• Gas (oxygen, nitrogen) permeability measurement
• Thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, DMTA)
• Rheological investigation of polymers (dynamic, capillary and solution viscosity, MFI)
• Optical microscopy
• Instrumented impact testing