Project description
Maintaining elastic properties even after 'locking in' 3D structure
Thermoplastic elastomers are an important class of materials that combine the look, feel and elasticity of rubber with the recyclability and well-established processing efficiency of synthetic plastics. The same chemical compound can exist as different 3D arrangements of atoms (stereoisomers), and not all arrangements are desirable for a given application. Locking in the desired 3D structure without losing elasticity is a challenge. The EU-funded STEREOM3D project has identified elastomeric materials whose 3D shape can be fixed by exposure to light (photoset) without disrupting their elastomeric properties. Based on this, STEREOM3D will deliver the first 3D printed elastomers with material properties that are controlled with controlled stereochemical composition.
Objective
In most synthetic polymeric materials, control over the mechanical properties of the material is achieved by changing the fundamental chemical structure of the polymer by using monomers with fundamentally different functional groups, chain length or rigidity. In contrast, Nature’s polymers use a more restricted set of building blocks but use additional complexity to the structure−property relationship by leveraging stereochemistry to control the structure and hence properties and function of materials. Through the STEREOPOL ERC programme, we have been investigating this relationship and how to both overcome the synthetic limitations that hold back the design of stereoregular materials, as well as how these fundamental properties can be used to influence materials properties and behaviour. Within this project, and inspired by the cis/trans stereochemistry that dictates the enormous differences in mechanical properties between the otherwise structurally identical gutta percha and natural rubber, we have discovered that E/Z isomerisism within double bonds in synthetically-accessible polymers can be used to control mechanical properties of the resultant thermoplastic elastomer materials.
Through this work, we have identified that these principles can be extended to photoset materials (those that are crosslinked by exposure to light), while retaining their elastomeric nature. In turn, this advance enables us to develop the first 3-dimensional (3D) printed elastomers with material properties that are determined by stereochemical composition. The ability to control materials properties by stereochemical leverage will reduce the need to reformulate each composition for processing by 3D printing, thus providing a significant commercial advantage in an area in which competitive materials are limited but in which there is a significant need.
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.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering manufacturing engineering additive manufacturing
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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)
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Topic(s)
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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-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-PoC
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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.
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom
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