Project description
Novel polymer networks with a can-do attitude about recycling
Polymers have revolutionised fields from aerospace and wind energy to food packaging and adhesives. When their end of life is reached, though, some are more challenging than others to deal with sustainably. Thermoplastic polymers like those used in plastic bottles are flexible and elastic (they have plasticity), and they are easily recyclable. Thermoset polymers become ‘set’ in place when heated and moulded – great for applications requiring strength, rigidity and structural integrity but a barrier to recycling. Covalent adaptable networks (CAN), polymer networks with reversible covalent crosslinks, could be the solution. The EU-funded CiMaC project is engineering novel CAN precursors that could overcome barriers and enhance control of CAN properties.
Objective
While displaying superior properties compared to thermoplastic polymers, thermosets – which have an annual global production of 40 million tons and are for example used in windmill blades and adhesives – represent a major worldwide challenge. Their crosslinked structure presents many hurdles when it comes to recycling and responding to Europe’s desire for a circular economy.
The overarching objective of the CiMaC-program is to propose ground-breaking solutions to the major shortcomings of Covalent Adaptable Networks (CANs), being their long-term dimensional stability and (re)processing ability when using industrial techniques, thereby enabling the urgent uptake of these revolutionary thermosets from academic research to an industrial level. Covalent dynamic chemistry should ideally enable a combination of the bulk processing possible when using thermoplastics and the high durability of thermosets. Today, however, the chemical design of CANs, with ultrafast (re)processing potential, along with dimensional stability under service conditions, represents the holy grail in sustainable material science.
The unique concept to tackle this ultimate goal will start from my recognized expertise in precision macromolecular chemistry. The central idea is that the use of precisely engineered telechelic macromolecules as CAN-precursors will allow an unprecedented regulation of the resulting CAN properties through control over different molecular parameters, such as tacticity and internal catalysis. First, several innovative synthetic protocols/methodologies will be developed to make such unique telechelic structures on a large enough scale for material science. After their incorporation into CANs, the key findings within the CiMaC knowledge platform on reprocessing and long-term performance of crosslinked materials, will be implemented for both the development of robust, on-demand debondable adhesives, as well as for providing the first upscalable extrudable thermoset materials.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-ADG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
9000 GENT
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.