Nanostructured and Functional Polymer Materials/NanFun

Project start: April 2010

Consortium: Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Zagreb (FKIT); KONČAR – Electrical Engineering Institute (KONČAR – Institute)

Abstract

Project “NANOSTRUCTURED AND FUNCTIONAL POLYMERIC MATERIALS / NANFUN” encourages cooperation between industry and academic research institutions in the field of basic and applied nanotechnology. Participating institutions are the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, KONČAR – Electrical Engineering Institute Inc. and the Croatian Foundation for Science. Project is funded by KONČAR – Electrical Engineering Institute Inc. in the amount of 1/3 and the Croatian Science Foundation in the amount of 2/3 of total money assets, 1.5 million kuna, at the time of implementation of a total of 3 years.

The project is realized within the HRZZ ”Partnership in fundamental research” that aims to increase investment in basic research at Croatian universities, public institutes and other research institutions, based on the principles of public-private partnership.

The project contains several scientific and social objectives: development of nanotechnology, creation of material with specific and original properties and training of highly educated experts who will work on the development of the economy and lead the collaboration of scientific research institutions and industry.

The main objective of this research is the creation and development of the processes for the preparation of nanocomposites based on alkyl-methacrylates / functional copolymers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) which will yield materials with improved and superior properties for specific applications.

The research will include the synthesis and preparation of nanostructured and functional polymer materials based on alkyl-methacrylates, styrene, functional comonomers and carbon nanotubes, as well as the characterization of their composition, structure and special properties targeted towards certain applications such as reduction of noise and vibration level, and self-cleaning. With a change of the certain alkyl methacrylates (methyl-, hexyl-, dodecyl-, octadecyl-) content in copolymers, changes occur in the mobility of macromolecule segments as well as in the glass transition temperature of the polymer (from –100 to 100 °C), the plasticity/elasticity ratio, and electromagnetic nature – from mostly polar to mostly nonpolar (hydrophobic).

The modeling of these properties and determination of interrelationships described by mathematical functions between the reaction-process parameters, bulk and application properties will enable the creation of materials with optimal properties for specific applications. Furthermore, incorporation of even small quantities of functional comonomers such as dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate leads to the modification of existing and introduction of new properties. As a result, materials of improved mechanical properties, adhesivity, chemical stability and solubility will be obtained.

 

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