Canada Research Chair in Rheology of Polymer Blends and Composites
About the chair
Amidst the challenges posed by climate change, which is largely fueled by CO2 emissions, humanity faces a critical moment. Various industries, including the plastic sector, significantly contribute to this concerning trend, surpassing carbon emission thresholds and deepening the climate crisis. Moreover, the widespread use of single-use plastics worsens environmental degradation and health hazards, with microplastics infiltrating our food chain.
Scientific research aimed at reducing the energy required for plastic production, extending the lifespan of plastics, preventing single-use, enhancing recycling efforts, and addressing health implications is crucial in mitigating climate change.
Developing novel materials like polymer blends (PB) and thermoplastic composites (TPC) holds immense promise in combating the impacts of climate change. By creating PB from recycled polymers, we not only alleviate plastic waste but also curb carbon emissions, offering a dual solution to environmental challenges.
Moreover, these innovative materials transcend their environmental benefits, finding applications in biomedical fields like cell-growth scaffolds and personal protective equipment, thus advancing healthcare.
Through this research chair, we strive to harness the power of polymer blends and thermoplastic composites, leveraging rheology and materials science to optimize their functionality and production, ultimately contributing to the fight against climate change.
Research
The research chair program is tailored to build upon existing knowledge in polymer blends and composites, aiming to develop new materials using conventional and emerging polymer processing techniques. Our focus is on technologies that promote a circular economy, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance human health, including biomedical applications, through the use of synthetic and biobased polymers. The development of these materials will be guided by an understanding of rheology, providing a solid foundation for progress in the field.
Research areas
Polymer Blends and Composites for Carbon Footprint Reduction
- Lightweight blends and composites tailored for transportation and electrical applications.
- Reclamation of recycled post-industrial and post-consumer polymers.
- Recycling of conductive composites.
Polymer Blends and Composites for Biomedical Applications
- Blends and composites containing piezoelectric-responsive polymers.
- Utilization of pullulan-based blends for drug delivery applications.
- Clay natural polymers hybrids for drug delivery applications.
Advancing Responsible Processing Techniques for Polymer Blends and Composites
- Fundamental studies on rheology of polymer blends and composites.
- Rheology in spinning techniques.
- Rheology in extrusion based additive manufacturing processes.
Introducing the Chairholder
Nicole Demarquette holds a bachelor from Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (France) and a PhD from McGill University (Québec) in chemical engineering. After starting her career in Brazil, where she founded the Rheology and Polymer Processing Laboratory at the Department of Materials Engineering at the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo, she joined ÉTS in 2012. She is currently the Head of the PolymerETS Laboratory.
She is particularly interested in:
- Polymer rheology.
- The relationship between materials microstructure and their engineering properties.
- Designing new polymeric materials.
She has supervised the work of around 60 masters and doctoral students and has published over 165 articles, books and book chapters. She is an active member of the Society of Plastic Engineering and of the Society of Rheology.
- University of Sao Paulo
- Federal University of Sao Carlos
- Federal University of Pernambuco
- Federal University of ABC
- MackGraph
- INSA Lyon
- INSA Strasbourg
- IMT Nord Europe
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden
- Rice University
- NanoXplore
- NOVA Chemicals
- Hydro-Québec
- Anton Paar Canada Inc.
- ARBURG
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
Contact the chairholder
Research at ÉTS
ÉTS provides an ideal environment for conceiving and creating the ideas that will shape the world of the future.