Multicomponent polymeric materials

Abstract

This project aims to develop multicomponent polymeric materials such as copolymers, blends, composites and nanocomposites. The diversity and versatility of applications of these materials are due to the variety of the properties of their components as well as the methods used to prepare or to synthesize them. The appropriated selection of the components can result in polymeric materials with controlled and designed properties. In this context different projects have been developed in my research group: A. Synthesis of amphiphilic and water soluble copolymers by radical copolymerization of sacarose monomers or macromers from vegetal oil (both synthesized by the research group) or by (co)polymerization via ring opening polymerization (ROP) of lactones and cyclic carbonates; B. Preparation and characterization of tough blends and nanocomposites based on thermoplastics and clays; C. Preparation and characterization of composites based on biodegradable thermoplastic and natural fibers.The results obtained in these studies should allow to establishing relationships among structure and composition of materials with their properties. With this knowledge the team will be able to optimize the performance of the systems to produce polymeric materials of interest to the market. (AU)