POLYMER STRUCTURES BASED ON FIBERS OR FILMS FOR FUNCTIONAL APPLICATIONS

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The performance of polymer films and fibers is the result of the microstructure that is imparted to the material as a result of complex interactions between the resin and the thermo-mechanical history that it experiences during and after processing. This is particularly important in the case of semi-crystalline polymers, where the microstructure is a mix of crystallinity, orientation and morphological characteristics. Our previous program focussed on the development specific films structures for the generation of hydrophilic porous membranes and to produce functional fibrous structures with conductive properties. With the help of my most recent discovery grant, I supervised two PhD students, one finished his degree and the other one is pursuing his project. With the help from the present application, it is intended to continue the work on the development of functional porous membranes from both films and fibers structures as well as their extension to other applications such as piezoelectric and antibacterial. This will be performed using a cast film process followed by stretching and functionalization as well as the electrospinning process. Specifically, three projects will be pursued or conducted: 1) development of conductive electrospun nanostructures based on graphene and PANI for sensing applications; 2) functionalized electrospun structures for biomedical applications and 3) functionalization of PP porous membranes for enhanced separation operations in polar or bioactive media. ***Based on our previous results, we showed that the technologies developed in our research projects can have a significant potential. Recent patent applications on porous membranes and non woven vascular scaffold (now patented) are being evaluated further for potential commercial applications. ***In terms of training of highly qualified personnel, mostly PhD student are planned to be supported from my discovery grant. Two PhD students under my supervision in the past few years benefited from a support from my discovery grant. One of them finished his PhD. In the next five years, three PhD and one MS students as well as at least two post doctoral fellows are planned to benefit from the support of this discovery grant application.**