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 |
Professor |
brian.amsden@chee.queensu.ca
BioSci 1422A
(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 |
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 205A
(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 |
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 |
Associate Professor |
marianna.kontopoulou@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 |
Timothy McKenna |
Professor |
tim.mckenna@chee.queensu.ca
Dupuis 403
(613) 533-6582 |
Fundamentals, chemical engineering methods applied to polymers, experimentally based modelling of polymerisations, production of emulsions, miniemulsions and other dispersed phase free radical polymers, fundamentals of particle growth, heat and mass transfer during olefin polymerisation on supported catalysts, polymer-based hybrids, composites and advanced materials, sensor design for polymerisation reactors
|
Scott Parent |
Associate Professor |
scott.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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