Both the ESRs completed the training programme.
The extensive and sophisticated training offered in SUPRABARRIER allowed the scientific and professional growth of the two enrolled ESRs. The interdisciplinary and collaborative nature of the project, the monthly skype meetings, the frequent brain storming sessions, the close collaborations with the colleagues at UNIPR and SABIC gave natural openness to collaboration, determination to solve problems and ability to think beyond traditional research and national boundaries to the fellows. During the development of the project, the ESRs acquired a plethora of scientific and personal skills that will help them in their future careers. During the project development, the two PIs decided to extend the training programme of the two ESRs since more competences to be acquired were identified. Moreover, for the complete autonomy in performing the experiments needed for the implementation of the project, the participation of the two students to training courses to learn the use of scientific instruments (e.g. NMRs, DSC, TGA, Rheometer, etc.) was strongly encouraged. The international congresses, lectures and seminars attended by the fellows exposed them to different research areas and gave the opportunity to effectively communicate with colleagues from different backgrounds and settings, and to expand their networking which is a great advantage for their subsequent professional development. The external secondments in different labs (TU/Eindhoven, University of Cambridge, SABIC Technology Center Bangalore India) gave another dimension to the training of the students, both on research and human relationships aspects. The presence of SABIC as beneficiary helped the students to develop an important industrial network (customer interactions, involvement with different SABIC sites) which will help them in their future. The ample training in complementary skills like communicating with the scientific community and with the general public, and writing grant, proposal and scientific articles completed the professional preparation of the two ESRs.
The importance and validity of the achieved results are testified by the production of six scientific papers (2 published; one currently under revision and three under submission) and three patents. The evaluations of the PhD theses by external academic experts were very positive for both the students. In particular, the novelty and the application potential of both the theses were appreciated.
During the project new functionalized polyolefins were designed, prepared, characterised and tested. These materials presented a significant increase in oxygen barrier properties with respect to pristine polymers. The introduction of reversible cross-linking units produced polyolefin vitrimers have ehnanched mechanical properties. All these materials can be produced industrially via reactive extrusion process.
