Polymer Research Centre Polymer Recycling Activities

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Polymer Research CentrePolymer Recycling
Activities
by Gary Stevens
Polymer Research Centre, School of Physics and
Chemistry, University of Surrey, Guildford,
Surrey GU2 7XH
Polymer Recycling Network, University of Warwick,
16 May 2000
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Polymer Research Centre Mission
To establish research partnerships with industry,
to identify and undertake focused
multi-disciplinary research in polymer science
and technology to support strategic industrial
development, technology transfer and problem
solving, and to promote innovation and
competitiveness. More details PRC
http//www.surrey.ac.uk/PRC/ Polymer Recycling
http//www.surrey.ac.uk/CHAMP/ USEB
http//www.surrey.ac.uk/USEB/
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Polymer Research Centre Research Activities

• Polymer Recycling and the Environment
• life-cycle product design and integrated chain
  management - CHAMP
• physical and chemical approaches to recovery,
  re-use and recycling
• recycling technologies - e.g. microwave
  processing of waste thermosets, supercritical
  carbon dioxide recovery
• University of Surrey Environmental Body
• Polymer Degradation and Ageing
• multi-stress degradation and ageing of polymers
• ageing processes, mechanisms/kinetics and
  failure/end-of-life criteria
• chemometric modelling of degradation reactions
• Polymer Characterisation and Properties
• surface/interfacial characteristics and
  analytical methods
• spectroscopy and chromatography molecular
  characterisation
• thermophysical properties and thermal analysis
  methods
• microstructural studies and microscopy techniques

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Polymer Research Centre Research Directions

• Chemometrics
• in-process monitoring and control of polymer
  processing
• predictive ageing, structure-process-property
  relationships
• Fire Performance of Polymers
• flame retardant risks and benefit assessment
• improved approaches to risk assessment
• new approaches to controlling performance
• Condition Assessment and Smart Materials
• networks for molecular self-repair under
  electrical degradation
• spectroscopic sensors for condition assessment
• Medical Applications of Polymers
• cardiovascular grafts and implants (with the
  Royal Surrey Hospital)
• understanding drug delivery systems
• plasma modification routes to biocompatibility

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Polymer Research Centre Research Directions

• Electrical Properties and Applications of
  Polymers
• electrostatic force microscopy
• electrical damage accumulation processes in
  insulating materials
• conducting polymers including intrinsic, blends
  and composites
• Plasma and Ion Interactions with Polymers
• plasma modification, coating and processing of
  polymer surfaces
• plasma enhanced adhesion
• low energy ion implantation (developing)
• Polymer Structure-Property Relationships
• modelling transport properties of 2-phase
  composites
• structure-property relationships in metallocene
  catalysed polyolefins
• group interaction modelling and property
  prediction