Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
École Polytechnique de Montréal
$135,000.00
A modular system for melt-processing of thermoplastic polymers: Phase 1 - Control System and Internal Mixer Units
FY 2014-15
Summary
A torque rheometer equipped with a mixer/measuring head, rotors and softwares is an important apparatus for the melt processing and characterization of thermoplastic polymer based materials, including polymer blends and bio/nanocomposites. It is a mixer that allows laboratory scale melt processing experiments to obtain data on material flow properties, ease of processing, degradation behavior and blending of components. The applicants' research programs are all related to the development and processing of novel thermoplastic based materials, which usually start by studying their behavior at various controlled processing conditions of temperature, time and applied shear. Subsequently, formulations must be prepared, and the impact of parameters such as composition and mixing time must be quantified. The torque rheometer and internal mixer we request will allow all of these important studies. This instrument, central to our research programs, will ultimately allow us to optimize material properties, to submit patent applications, and to develop new commercial products with industrial partners. In Canada, the plastics industry comprises 2434 companies, 77 400 jobs for 19.7 B$ in shipments (38% of total shipments in 2010). Thermoplastic based materials are relatively inexpensive materials, lightweight compared to metals, synergistic properties can be obtained by blending, properties can be reinforced and/or modified by the addition of micro/nanoparticles, they are relatively easy to process and mold into various shapes, etc. As a result, the three main sectors of applications are the packaging industry (34%), building materials (26%) and the transportation/automotive sector (18%), with a number of technological niches (biomaterials for biomedical technologies, electronics, etc.). The materials currently developed by the applicants specifically target these fields of applications: new bio-based high performance polymer blends, high-performance bio/nanocomposites, functional polymer materials for smart detection packaging applications, new energetic materials, soft multiphase gel materials for the biomedical/biotechnology fields, etc.
Program
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
472822-2015
Name nom
Virgilio, Nick
Department département
Génie chimique
Organization id
64
Institution établissement
École Polytechnique de Montréal
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2014
Competition year année de concours
2015
Award amount
135000
Program id
EQPEQ
Program name en
Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
Program name fr
Outils et instruments de recherche - catégorie 1 (<150 000$)
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1511
Committee name en
Materials and Chemical Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie chimique et des matériaux
Area of application code
508
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Polymers, rubber and plastics
Area of application fr
Polymères, caoutchouc et plastiques
Research subject code
1808
Research subject group en
Chemical engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie chimique
Research subject en
Rheology and processing
Research subject fr
Rhéologie et transformation
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
A modular system for melt-processing of thermoplastic polymers: Phase 1 - Control System and Internal Mixer Units
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
A torque rheometer equipped with a mixer/measuring head, rotors and softwares is an important apparatus for the melt processing and characterization of thermoplastic polymer based materials, including polymer blends and bio/nanocomposites. It is a mixer that allows laboratory scale melt processing experiments to obtain data on material flow properties, ease of processing, degradation behavior and blending of components. The applicants' research programs are all related to the development and processing of novel thermoplastic based materials, which usually start by studying their behavior at various controlled processing conditions of temperature, time and applied shear. Subsequently, formulations must be prepared, and the impact of parameters such as composition and mixing time must be quantified. The torque rheometer and internal mixer we request will allow all of these important studies. This instrument, central to our research programs, will ultimately allow us to optimize material properties, to submit patent applications, and to develop new commercial products with industrial partners. In Canada, the plastics industry comprises 2434 companies, 77 400 jobs for 19.7 B$ in shipments (38% of total shipments in 2010). Thermoplastic based materials are relatively inexpensive materials, lightweight compared to metals, synergistic properties can be obtained by blending, properties can be reinforced and/or modified by the addition of micro/nanoparticles, they are relatively easy to process and mold into various shapes, etc. As a result, the three main sectors of applications are the packaging industry (34%), building materials (26%) and the transportation/automotive sector (18%), with a number of technological niches (biomaterials for biomedical technologies, electronics, etc.). The materials currently developed by the applicants specifically target these fields of applications: new bio-based high performance polymer blends, high-performance bio/nanocomposites, functional polymer materials for smart detection packaging applications, new energetic materials, soft multiphase gel materials for the biomedical/biotechnology fields, etc.
