A focus on polymers

Things are always flowing when it comes to polymers.

Adjoining the Pilot Plant is the Polymer Lab, which is used by both undergraduates and researchers. On any given day, people wearing white lab coats and goggles are hard at work in the bright, modern space, analyzing and modifying polymers and learning the principles of polymer processing.

“Over the past eight years, we’ve done renovations and brought in most of the equipment you see,” says Steven Hodgson, Chemical Technologist in the Department of Chemical Engineering. “For example, when an injection moulder became available after a research centre folded, we paid to have it moved and installed, and the second- and fourth-year students make great use of it.”

Students use the injection moulding machine to make “dog bone” type strips to test the tensile strength of different types of plastic, says Kelly Sedore, also a chemical technologist with the department. “They also make Izod bars to perform impact tests, to examine what force it takes to break the polymers, and explore the properties of different plastics.”

In addition, the lab features a single screw extruder, which works by forcing the plastic through a die rather than into a mould. “In a fourth-year project, the professor assigns students a polymer, perhaps polypropylene or polyethylene,” says Sedore. “The students extrude the polymer to study the temperature and pressure-flow relationships.”

Hodgson says the Polymer Lab’s facilities are unique. “Many of our researchers do work in plastics, so Equipment/features list:

> Rotational and capillary rheometers > Haake Polylab batch mixer > DSM micro-compounder > Alpha Technologies APA 2000 > Instron 3369 universal tester > Impact, pendulum and falling dart > ZSK-18 mm twin-screw extruder > Linkam optical shearing system > Single screw extruder > Nissei injection molder > Heated two roll mill Principal investigators include: Dr. Marianna Kontopoulou Dr. Scott Parent Dr. Jeffrey Giacomin

Chemical Technologist Kelly Sedore assesses stressstrain behaviour on a polymeric sample.

therefore in undergrad programs, we have an emphasis on polymers,” he says. “This is unique compared to other programs, and sets us aside.”

Polymer Lab researchers work with plastic and rubber compounds. They include Dr. J. Scott Parent, Hazell Research Professor of Chemical Design and Innovation Engineering Chemistry Program Chair, who leads a research program focused on the chemical modification of polymers for use in highvalue engineering applications.

As well, Dr. Marianna Kontopoulou, Associate Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering, is part of the polymer processing and rheology group, which uses blending, compounding and composite technologies to improve the performance of polyolefins and biopolymers and create new and industrially useful materials.

Graduates, Hodgson adds, work in many fields. “They go to software companies in California, into the medical field, to do research in biomedical and polymers, as well as into engineering.”