Polymer & Reaction Engineering
The research combines industrial focus with a commitment to understand the underlying research problems from a fundamental physicochemical perspective. Applications range from the design of new polymeric materials for drug delivery, to the development of improved operating and control strategies for large-scale reactors used in polymer production. The complementary research interests provide the opportunity to develop not only leading-edge polymeric materials, but also the associated manufacturing processes for efficient and robust production of those materials.
Examples of current research topics include: experimental and modeling studies of homogeneous and heterogeneous polymerization systems including catalyzed-olefin, free-radical, living-radical, and condensation polymerization reactions; polymeric materials for drug delivery and surgical applications; chemical modification of polymers through the functionalization of commodity polymers (polyolefins); enhancing cure rates of modified vulcanization halogenated elastomers; rheology and processing of polymer blends and composites; and turbulent mixing of gaseous systems.
Facilities within the polymers and reaction engineering field include a variety of bench and pilot scale polymerization reactors (gas-phase polyolefin, solution and emulsion free-radical, living-radical and condensation polymer systems), specialized equipment for studying polymerization kinetics (reaction calorimeter, pulsed-laser polymerization system), polymer processing equipment (twin-screw extruder, Haake internal mixer), rotational and capillary rheometers, a well-equipped polymer characterization laboratory plus two wind tunnels and a gas fired research furnace at the Queen's University Centre for Advanced Combustion Technology.
Research Groups
Research Faculty
| Names |
Rank |
Contact |
Research Interests |
Brian Amsden |
Associate Professor |
amsden@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 403
(613) 533-3093 |
Polymer biomaterials, protein drug delivery, tissue engineering, controlled release, diffusion in gels and polymer solutions |
Phil Bates |
cross appointed with RMC |
Processing reinforced thermoplastics, joining fibre reinforced thermoplastics |
Michael F. Cunningham |
Associate Professor |
michael.cunningham@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 315
(613) 533-2782 |
Polymerization, emulsion, miniemulsion, living radical polymerization, functional polymer particles |
E.W. (Ted) Grandmaison |
Professor |
ted.grandmaison@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 210
(613) 533-2771 |
Transport phenomena; turbulent mixing in jets, flames and flares; low NOX combustion for industrial furnaces; energy efficiency in industrial furnace operations |
Robin Hutchinson |
Associate Professor |
robin.hutchinson@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 426
(613) 533-3097 |
Polymer reaction engineering, polymerization kinetics and mechanisms, modeling and simulation, acrylic resins for automotive coatings |
Marianna Kontopoulou |
Assistant Professor |
kontop@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 207
(613) 533-3079 |
Processing of thermoplastics, rheology, polymer blends, polymer nanocomposites |
Kim B. McAuley |
Professor |
kim.mcauley@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 314
(613) 533-2768 |
Mathematical modeling, applied statistics, process control, polymer reaction engineering, polyethylene, nylon polymerization, polymer gel dosimetry, fuel cells |
Scott Parent |
Associate Professor |
parent@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 409
(613) 533-6266 |
Chemical modification of polymers, free-radical and nucleophilic substitution chemistry, advanced elastomer and polyolefin composites |
William T. Thompson |
cross appointed with RMC |
|
Ralph A. Whitney |
cross appointed with the Department of Chemistry |
|
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