The relevance of joining forces in method development for polymer analysis
The DPI portfolio has a variety of topics on which companies collaborate to develop knowledge. A striking example is the development and application of methods and techniques for polymer analysis. This is a typical pre-competitive topic with great relevance, as demonstrated by several examples from the DPI network.
Take the PhD research of Anton Ginzburg who obtained his doctorate within a DPI project in the Enabling tools and technologies programme. Currently an associate professor at KU Leuven, Ginzburg obtained his PhD at TU Darmstadt on polyolefin separation based on the molecular interaction of polymer chains and graphene sheets. He explains that conventional polymer separation technology is predominantly based on crystallisation, but with the continuous evolution of polyolefins there was a need for novel separation technology based on different principles. “The concept had just been developed and was not yet thoroughly validated”, Ginzburg says. “Our project was aimed at making it work in a way that was useful to the industry.” The DPI funding led to a prototype system that was later developed into real instrumentation. Major industrial laboratories have now adopted the technology for advanced polymer R&D across diverse classes of polyolefins, including low-crystallinity materials such as elastomers and plastomers, as well as complex polyolefin blends.
A constantly evolving laboratory
The importance of such method development is underpinned by Markus Gahleitner, Senior Group Expert Polyolefins at Borealis. “In industrial polymer research it is essential to have a research laboratory that is constantly evolving and developing new methods. As an example, we wouldn’t have the fractionation equipment in our analytical laboratory if we hadn’t been involved in DPI projects developing this. I even think that some equipment companies thank their existence to these projects, since their products were basically optimized as part of a DPI project.” Another example he mentions is the development of novel NMR analysis. “At first there was a lot of scepticism about what NMR could do for recycling. Now Naples University has developed a high-speed NMR method for automated characterization of polyolefins. It works relatively well and it’s very fast. And it’s important, because in mechanical recycling, you absolutely must know your feedstock.”
The DPI project on novel separation technology led to a prototype system that was later developed into real instrumentation. Major industrial laboratories have now adopted the technology for advanced polymer R&D across diverse classes of polyolefins, including low-crystallinity materials such as elastomers and plastomers, as well as complex polyolefin blends.
Invest in new developments
Ginzburg, who worked on polyolefin catalyst and material development at SABIC before moving back to academia, has always kept in touch with DPI. At SABIC, he contributed to building and operating a high throughput experimentation lab and represented the company in various DPI projects. Of course, he says, polymer research must deliver on business needs, but the focus should be also beyond that. “At SABIC we also invested time into new process developments, development of new tools, and even some blue-sky research that could be relevant in the near future.” He realises that in current times of economic and geopolitical uncertainties, such an approach is under pressure. “However, if you just deliver on business needs, you might miss out the trends of tomorrow. I think most companies, particularly those that are big enough, understand and recognise this.”
Such an example can be found at Hutchinson, where Aurelie Bourdet works at the physical chemical analysis laboratory. She is responsible for X-ray analysis which is one of the key methods in polymer analysis. Research at the laboratory has a competitive as well as a pre-competitive edge, she says: “We analyse samples from the Hutchinson production facilities. But we have also more fundamental projects to work on. These are aimed at improving our capabilities and better understanding the materials.”
An opportunity for in-depth fundamental research
Bourdet is currently involved as industrial expert representing Hutchinson in the DPI projects MORPHORMANCE and H2-DuraPol. The first is on understanding load-induced morphological changes in PEEK and their effects on creep and fatigue behaviour, supporting high-performance applications. The second concerns the impact of high-pressure hydrogen on polymeric materials used in hydrogen transportation and storage, in particular related to their ageing. For Bourdet and Hutchinson, the 2.5–3 year DPI projects offer the opportunity to conduct in-depth fundamental research, concentrating on one specific subject. “Typical industrial projects have shorter timelines, driven by the rapid development of competitive materials to meet specifications. And even our fundamental research rarely allows exclusive attention to be given to one subject, meaning the effective time spent on it is much less.” From a science point of view, a significant advantage of the DPI projects is that they increase Hutchinson’s expertise in X-ray analysis for a wider range of material systems. “We can then apply that knowledge to better understand our own materials.”
Who’s talking
Markus Gahleitner is Senior Group Expert Polypropylene at DPI partner company Borealis. He provides scientific support to Borealis’ research and development efforts, manages all aspects of intellectual property, and is responsible for internal training of Borealis researchers. He is also involved in cooperative projects with various universities and represents Borealis in DPI. Gahleitner has authored over a hundred peer-reviewed scientific publications and holds many patents.
Anton Ginzburg is an associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at KU Leuven (Belgium). He obtained his PhD at TU Darmstadt (Germany) in 2012 on research carried out within a DPI project. Ginzburg then joined DPI industrial partner SABIC as a research scientist, where he was also involved in DPI projects. In 2020 he moved to KU Leuven, where he researches new polymeric materials using accessible building blocks and advanced analytical methods.
Aurélie Bourdet is a research scientist at DPI industrial partner Hutchinson, working at the physical chemical analysis laboratory where she is responsible for X-ray analysis. Before joining Hutchinson, she held various positions as a postdoctoral researcher, amongst others at the French IFREMER research institute where she took part in a DPI project on Elastomer Degradation under Mechanical Loading. She is currently representing Hutchinson in two DPI projects: MORPHORMANCE and H2-DuraPol.
This interview is the second in a series of five, exploring the added value of pre-competitive research and the role of the DPI community in advancing polymer innovation. Other interviews in the series are:
- It’s a huge risk to mistake a symptom for the actual problem, with Markus Gahleitner (Borealis) and Rein Borggreve (Executive Advisor DPI)
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