Polymer chemistry is a subdiscipline of widely understood chemical science. It focuses on the synthesis of both, oligomeric and macromolecular compounds, on the reaction mechanisms and kinetics of the chemical processes, and also polymer processing and recycling. Research in this subdiscipline also includes the analysis of the chemical structure, physicochemical, thermal and mechanical properties of macromolecules and polymers. The analysis of the structure-properties relationship is very important especially from the polymers design point of view, which are used at every industries intended everyday life items. The discipline also covers research on the processing of polymers, mixtures and alloys, as well as the recycling of post-production waste and used polymer products, which is important from the point of sustainable development. Synthetic polymers, which are the basis of plastics, are commercially obtained from petroleum refining products. Nowadays, increasingly developing are bio-polymers (produced with the participation of plant monomers), which usage is visible in both, technical commercial products and in products for everyday life items. Polymers are the main components of composites and nanocomposites, laminates and two- or multi-layer products.
The chemistry of polymers enables the development of civilization by the supply of more and more perfect materials and semi-finished products. Polymer chemistry ensuring the development of other areas of technology, as well as everyday life items, e.g. construction, transport, household, clothing production, electronics, medicine, automotive, aviation. It plays a decisive role in improving the production of new bulk polymers, as well as special polymers with the desired properties, engineering plastics, inorganic nanomaterials, nanocomposites, elastomers (rubber and non-rubber), synthetic fibers, components and auxiliaries, household and construction chemicals and many other materials, often of particular purity, defined properties or special purpose.
At the Department of Polymers Technology, Faculty of Chemistry at the Gdańsk University of Technology, research is carried out on various topics. The purpose of the research is to ensure continuous development of plastics / polymers. The group of polyurethane polymers and monomers ((bio) polyols, (bio) isocyanates) for their preparation, polyurethane composites and nanocomposites (e.g. with graphene, fibers) and the recycling of polyurethanes and rubber are particularly studied. Among others, syntheses of two types of new bio-polyols are investigating. First type is a bi- or multi-functional bio-polyol obtained by polycondensation of bio-monomers. The second one, is a bio-polyol obtained in an innovative biomass liquefaction process. The developed bio-polyols are dedicated to elastomers, elastoplastics and polyurethane foams. In addition, at the Department of Polymer Technology, research is conducted on functionalized polyurethane materials for the production of tissue scaffolds for medical applications, on thermoplastic polyurethanes dedicated to 3D printing filaments, or polyurethane foams with increased fire resistance (with flame retardants and functionalized polyols). Work on the recycling of used polymer products, in particular polyurethane (foam recycling of polyurethane elastomers) and rubber products (waste from the tire industry) has been developed extensively and for many years. The subject of manufacturing new vulcanized rubber materials is also being developed - new rubber mixtures, vulcanized materials with rubber recyclates or new plasticizers, rubber composites and polymer modified asphalts. Most of the works are of a utilitarian nature. The results obtained very often show the implementation potential (patents, patent license sales). Some from realizing research works are carried out as part of scientific projects co-financed from domestic and foreign sources. The units financing the projects carried out in the Department include The National Science Center, the National Center for Research and Development, or the Ministry of Science and Education.
Keywords:
polyurethane synthesis; polymerization, bio-polyols synthesis; bio-polymers; polymer tissue scaffolds; recycling of polyurethanes; rubber recycling; polimer composites and nanocomposites, 3D printing materials
