Faculty and research in Polymer Technology

Faculty and research at each university

KTH

The research at the School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health at KTH  

spans over a wide range of topics, for example, the development of solar and fuel cells as well as other environmentally friendly energy sources, how to store nuclear waste safely, the design of novel polymers for use in the medical industry, the use of natural materials in new products and how friction can be explained on a molecular level.

The Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology conducts research at the frontiers of macromolecular material science of biopolymers, bio-based polymers and synthetic polymers. The research ranges from monomer and polymer syntheses and characterization to modelling/simulation, processing, long-term properties and material performance, composites, functionalities and devices and studies of pulp and paper. Research areas that have been identified as strategically important are materials from renewable resources, nanostructured materials, materials for medical applications and materials for the field of energy. These are closely related to the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring relevance for our society today and in the future.

Technical University of Denmark

The Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark covers the core chemical engineering disciplines: separation processes, reaction engineering, dynamics and process control, process design, product design, unit operations, transport phenomena and engineering thermodynamics. In addition, the department teaches and performs research within areas of particular practical importance, for example: polymer materials, coatings science and technology, and heterogeneous catalysis and bio-catalysis. Polymer research and teaching takes place at several departments across the university and exploits state-of-the-art research facilities, such as the Centre for Electron Nanoscopy CEN-DTU .

Polymer-related research and teaching activities cover broadly the field of materials science. This includes activities in the synthesis of polymers, characterization, analysis, formulation, and processing of elastomers, coatings, composite science as well as modeling and flow simulation. More specifically, research is currently focused on bio-based polymers, controlled polymerization techniques, and applied research in silicone elastomers as well as complex fluids and extensional rheology. Student projects are typically either part of ongoing research projects or are conducted in close collaboration with industry.

Research stories from KTH

• Wood-based water filter traps bacteria
• Repairing Bone Fractures Using High‐Performance Thiol-Ene Adhesive
• Engineering 3D printed and knitted degradable scaffolds

Facilities at KTH

2MiLab

2MILab  (Molecules and Materials at Interfaces Laboratory) has the aim of obtaining an understanding at a molecular scale and performing chemical engineering at interfaces in order to be able to control materials properties. 2MILab will stimulate interdisciplinary research projects and involve a large number of cutting-edge research techniques.

Greenhouse Labs

Greenhouse Labs  is a space hosted at KTH where small companies that work for a sustainable future can conduct research. Around ten companies are now housed in Greenhouse Labs, and their research spans a wide range of chemical areas, from molecular solar cells to drug development.