Polymer Reaction Engineering: What can Chemical Engineers Contribute to Polymer Science and Advanced Materials?

Abstract

[evdate 2015-04-20] IAS/School of Engineering joint lecture. Title from opening screen.

Abstract: The human race is now living in the 'Materials World'. Humanity currently consumes more polymeric materials than all other types of synthetic materials combined. Polymers are chain molecules and their materials properties are determined to a large extent by their chain microstructure properties. Presented in this seminar are a chemical engineer's point of view on advanced polymer materials and several research examples that include: high-strength polyethylene fibers made by nano-extrusion polymerization; long chain branched polyethylenes that offer a good combination of melt strength and processability; semi- batch reactor technology for controlled gradient copolymers, redispersible latexes prepared by switchable surfactant; and grafting biomimetic polymer for anti- fouling surfaces.

Prof Shiping Zhu received his PhD from McMaster University in 1991. He has been a faculty member there since then, and is currently Professor of Chemical Engineering and Tier-1 Canada Research Chair in Polymer Reaction Engineering.

Prof Zhu’s research focuses on controlled radical polymerization, catalytic polymerization of olefins, polymerization modeling, surface modification of biomaterials and interfacial engineering for plastic microelectronics.

Prof Zhu has received awards including the Chemical Institute of Canada’s Macromolecular Science and Engineering Award and the Westlake Friendship Award. He is an elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the Chemical Institute of Canada and the Engineering Institute of Canada.

Duration: 81 min.