ADVANCED MATERIALS

Essay

European Polymer Science- Future Research Strategies By Ronald Koningsveld and Gerhard Wegner *

1. Introduction

At the end of September last year, 450 polymer scientists from 28 countries from Europe and overseas met a t Baden- Baden (FRC) for the 4th Biennial Symposium of the Eu- ropean Polymer Federation (EPF). The aim of the EPF ~- the association of all national organizations of polymer sci- entists within Europe~ -is to stimulate the exchange of scien- tific and technical expertise among polymer researchers a t the European level. The conference topic “Polymer Materi- als” attracted 350 academic scientists from universities and research centers and also about 100 researchers from labora- tories of the chemical and electronics industries.

The scientific program focused on three main topics: Polll- iners with Supramolecular Architecture, which included ma- terials whose applications range from high-tensile-strength fibers to membranes in medicine; New Developments in Poly- mer Characlevization, since the development of advanced polymeric materials requires ever more sophisticated tech- niques of analysis; and Computer-Aided Polymer Science, recognizing the rapidly increasing importance of this branch of science which supplements experiment and theory. The various topics were introduced by 30 invited lectures present- ed by leading scientists from academia and industry. In addi- tion, 6 plenary lectures related synthetic polymers to other fields of chemistry and materials science. Contributed papers were presented in more than 70 oral contributions and about 130 posters.

In recognition of the increasing need for research and development on a European scale, the opportunity was tak- en to organize a special Round Table Discussion OIZ EC Fund- ing of Polymer Science and Technology. The framework was provided by brief surveys of a limited number of important topics (named Eurotopics) presented by leading experts. The discussion was chaired by G. Wegner (Mainz), who intro- duced the session by defining a Eurotopic as a research project broad enough to raise fundamental scientific interest

[*] Prof. G. Wegner Max-Pltinck-Instittit fur Polyinerforschung Ackermannwey 10, W-6500 Meinz (FRG) Prof. R. Koningsveld Polymer Institute LU Wa1dfcuchtstr;tat 13, 6132 HH Sittard (The Netherlands)

and at the same time important enough to provide technical and economic opportunities for the European polymer in- dustry in the long term. Such projects have a multidisci- plinary character and need the coordination of a wide variety of scientific expertise. This fact, and their social and indus- trial impact, causes many such topics to assume proportions necessitating an international collaboration. Eurotopics ought to be of genuine interest to the polymer industry, which although possibly not being able to give them priority a t the moment, should at least lend strategic support.

The EPF can provide a forum for ideas and act as an agency collecting and coordinating research activities. It is desirable that the European polymer community consistent- ly speak with one voice. One would hope and expect the EPF to eventually become an advisory and coordinative body for the national organizations and so guarantee that research ideas of a transnational character receive appropriate atten- tion.

At present, EC funding is available only for applied re- search, and basic research is the concern of national agen- cies. The two seem to be inutually exclusive. In such a situa- tion it is ignored that basic understanding cannot be dispensed with in the efficient development of a Eurotopic or, for that matter, any large research project. The creation and stimulation of an efficient interplay between fundamen- tal scientific interest and technological and engineering as- pects would appear to be an important objective for the EPF, which should endeavor to find modes of operation within the available schemes for funding, or outside those if need be.

As a first step in that direction the EPF has taken up a suggestion of its previous president, H. W Spiess (Mainz), and created a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) that will as- sist the EPF in the development of the suggested Eurotopics, so that they become suitable for proposal to European and/ or national funding agencies. At present, the SAB consists of Sir Geoffry Allen (UK), H. Benoit (F) , H. Berghmans (B), L. Bottenbruch (FRG), the EPF president R. Darms (CH), and the EPF committee members A. A. L. Challis (UK) and B. RBnby (S). R. Koningsveld (NL) serves as chairman.

As preparation for the round table discussion, the SAB had asked a number of leading experts to draw up out- lines of possible Eurotopics. The subjects selected were supramolecular structures (F. De Schryver, Leuven) comput-

Essay ADVANCED MATERIALS

er-aided polymer research (U. Suter, Zurich), optoelectron- ics (D. Haarer and M. Schwoerer, Bayreuth), reactive pro- cessing (M. Lambla, Strasbourg), combustion behavior of polymers (G. Camino, Torino) and polymer colloids (C. Price and C. Booth, Manchester). As no future research pro- ject on polymers can neglect environmental aspects, and in fact environmental consequences of the polymer industry's activities might very well provide a Eurotopic by itself, F. Mader (Brussels) presented thoughts on this subject.

2. Eurotopics

2.1. Optoelectronics

The importance of optoelectronics is clearly related to the impact of information technology on integrated and com- plex technologies, key examples being telecommunications, computers, office products, engineering, and manufacturing of vehicles and aircraft. High-tech industry cannot develop significantly without adequate R & D in optoelectronic ma- terials as the basis for new or improved hardware. In order to develop a consistent program directed towards the future needs of European industry expertise is required from such different fields as the solid-state physics of dielectric, piezo- electric or semiconducting organic materials; optics, includ- ing nonlinear optics, of polymers; synthetic polymer chem- istry; and the design, fabrication and integration of optoelec- tronic devices based on new materials into the existing tech-

nologies. Therefore collaboration between centers of exper- tise in European universities and institutes can only be fruitful if it is connected with major interdisciplinary efforts in which the chemical, electronics and mechanical engineer- ing industries are partners in research from the very begin- ning.

2.2. Supramolecular Architecture

New material properties arise from an ever increasing complexity of the organization of macromolecules on the supramolecular level. Such diverse applications of polymers as in biomedical sensors, liquid crystal (LC) displays, or high-strength fibers or membranes depend crucially on the reproducible control of the molecular and supramolecular architecture of the macromolecules. It follows that research in supramolecular architecture has a major impact in all branches of the high-tech polymer industry. Expertise in polymer synthesis, characterization methods and in particu- lar the development of new methods able to identify and analyze supramolecular architectures, polymer physics and engineering science is necessary in combination to develop a fruitful research program. Such a program would then be able to compete with similar -already existing-programs in Japan, where corresponding efforts are supported by MI- TI and IRDC. Unfortunately, expertise in this field in Eu- rope is rather fragmentary and scattered despite the fact that a number of original ideas and seminal papers which helped

Ronald Koningsveld is a retired director of the bmic research division at Dutch State Mines ( D S M ) and professor emeritus of polymer science, University o j Antwerp. He joined DSM in 1956, after receiving his ,first degree in chemical engineering from the Technical University of Delft and his Ph.D. from the University of Leiden. In 1980 he became director of'the basic research division of D S M . He has held guest professorships in Great Britain, the United States and Belgium and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of' Bristol, UK, and from the University of Dresden, FRG. His research interests include classical and statistical thermodynatn- ics of small-molecule and macromolecular systems. Presently he is a free collaborator at the Max-Planck-Institute f o r Polymer Research in Mainz (FRG) and the chairman ofthe Scientific Advisory Board of the EPE

Gerhard Wegner is Director at the Max Planck Institute,for Polymer Research in Mainz, FRG. He w m awarded his Ph.D.,from the University ofMainz in 1965 andufier rwo years postdoctoral work in the USA returned to the University of Mainz to begin a university cureer. In 1974 he joined the University of Freiburg as prqfkssor f o r polymer chemistry and became Directov qf the Institute ,for Macromolecular Chemistry before moving to his present position in 1984. His contributions to the fields of' polymers, and solid-state organic chemistry in general, have been recognized through the award of many national and international honors, including, most recent- ly, the Otto Bayer Prize, the Research Prize of'the Philipp Morris Foundation, and the Hermann Staudinger Prize of the German Chemical Society.

Adv. Mater. 1993, 5, No. 5 0 VCH Ve~lu~.~gc.~el~schqfi mbH, W-6940 PVeiitheOn. f993 093S-9648/93/050S-0331 $ S.OOf ,2515 33 1

ADVANCED Essay

MATERIALS

to constitute the field actually came from European sources. Thus, a strong interdisciplinary program on the European scale would be more than welcome.

2.3. Computer-Aided Polymer Research

The problem Paced in the field of computer-aided polymer research is similar. There exists a high demand for reliable prediction of the properties and behavior of materials, as well as for the modeling of polymer processing, including the modification of materials structure and properties by pro- cessing. Significant savings in development costs of new ma- terials or in optimizing processing and manufacturing lines can be expected through reduction of the required experi- mentation. Furthermore, increased efficiency of the process management is envisaged if better routines in computer-aid- ed polymer research were at hand. The research subject re- quires expertise in all fields of science involved in supercom- puting and this knowledge needs to be tied to the various scientific disciplines of polymer science and technology. The software produced in this context finds a receptive market and has already created a significant market segment for itself. The topic is US dominated. In Europe the products are less advanced and the production sites are scattered. Eu- ropean software firms of significance do not exist and only very few academic centers of excellence can be named. These, however, if coordinated by a European program, could de- velop sufficient strength to become competitive on the inter- national scene. Besides, all efforts should be made to include teaching of computational methods in academic curricula devoted to polymer science.

2.4. Polymer Processing

Large market growth is expected for modern reactive pro- cessing and materials produced by such techniques as pultru- sion, resin transfer molding, reaction injection molding and reactive extrusion. Again, the biggest developments are presently taking place in the US and ~ to a lesser extent - in Japan. Any significant development in Europe must call upon a strong international collaboration between the chem- ical and processing equipment industries integrated with academic efforts. Expertise in polymer chemistry, polymer physics, advanced methods of characterization of macro- molecular structures, rheology and processing science is nec- essary as the basis of a possible program.

2.5. Polymer Combustion

About half of all polymeric materials produced have to possess some degree of fire retardance. The fire safety re- quirements tend to increase the demands continually. The phenomena related to polymer combustion are probably

those least understood in polymer science and technology. A multitude of tests has been proposed on purely phenomeno- logical grounds, but general regulations would be difficult to issue. In view of the unification of Europe, the development of a consensus based on scientific arguments is important. Thus, a program needs to be developed taking advantage of existing expertise in kinetics of thermal degradation, chem- istry of oxidation and its prevention, polymer characteriza- tion and finally, but not least importantly, environmental aspects. Fortunately, a number of excellent centers of exper- tise d o exist in Europe, which, however, need to be coordi- nated within a dedicated program. The aim should be to develop a better fundamental understanding of the complex processes involved in combustion and this would in conse- quence lead to more appropriate tests. Better fire retardants could then be developed as well.

2.6. Polymer Colloids

Paints and coatings, paper finishing, soaps and detergents, pharmaceutical technology and the formulation of agricul- tural chemicals are all examples where polymers in a col- loidal state of matter play an important and decisive role. Polymer colloids help to minimize the amount of water used in washing and cleaning, are essential in replacing organic solvents by water in the paints and coatings industry, serve as indispensable components in chemical and biological waste-water treatment and have revolutionized drug and agrochemical delivery systems. This vast area of polymer technology deserves support in terms of a Eurotopic. How- ever, a credible start would need some restriction in terms of selected topics. One idea is that a collaboration between approximately five centers of academic excellence within Eu- rope strategically supported by industrial firms would be sufficient to get a program started. A possible project could center on micellar dispersions of homo- and block copoly- mers initially of simple specification. Expertise in polymer synthesis and characterization, thermodynamics, physical chemistry and theory of polymer solutions and colloidal sys- tems would be necessary. It should be blended with expertise coming from the fields of the intended applications in the biomedical, agricultural and coatings industries.

2.7. Environmental Aspects

The environmental aspects of polymers were addressed by Dr. F. Mader, who represents a coordinative organization concerned with plastics waste management in Europe, locat- ed in Brussels and working on behalf of a number of plastic industries in Europe. Waste management is obviously need- ed, particularly for commodity plastics that are designed to last a long time. The efforts of existing waste management companies are not sufficient and industry is forced to pay attention itself to the waste problem in its own R & D. Possi-

Essay ADVANCED MATERIALS

Fig. 1. Members of the panel during the round table discussion. From left to right: H. Benoit (France), R. Koningsveld (The Netherlands), H. W. Spiess (FRG), B. Rinhy (Sweden), C. Camino (Italy). M . Schwoerer (FRG), F. De Schryver (Bcl- gium), U. Suter (Switzerland), G . Wegner (FRG) and F. Mader (Belgium).

ble research topics include post-use life and combustion be- havior.

3. Round Table Discussion

During the discussion (Fig. 1) the overlap and relative importance of the suggested Eurotopics received quite some attention and constructive criticism. For instance, supra- molecular architecture, as worded, seemed to overlap with other topics such as polymer colloids and opto-electronics. The latter topic might represent the end stage of a supramolecular architecture project. There is the need for a separate topic, however, because further development of the information industry depends on the development of suit- able new materials. A moderate overlap was felt to be bene- ficial for neighboring topics and ought to stimulate collabo- ration.

The obviously limited selection of the Eurotopics was crit- icized and other areas were suggested to be of equal impor- tance, such as coatings, polymer surfaces (possible overlap with an existing European program of analytical character), high temperature polymers (new processing methods), poly- mers as pharmaceutically active reagents and bioactive poly- mers. It was noted that the topic of coatings could be included in polymer colloids as well as supramolecular archi- tecture. Some overlap with existing BRITE programs was noted, e.g. in the area of reactive processing and polymer colloids. These programs, however, handle only some as- pects of the subjects under discussion, and rather as side lines. There was a consensus that the purpose of EPF is to formulate a long-term research strategy in the form of Euro- topics whose size is such that implementation as a small part

of, for instance, a BRITE program is altogether insuffi- cient.

It was recommended that topic titles should be chosen that are attractive to industry, such as opto-electronics, biomedi- cal materials, and safety of polymers, and that general themes of polymer research should be picked out that can be split up into work projects in which topics such as computer- aided research may and must be included. The environmen- tal problem presents an obvious example of a topic in which an integrated approach is necessary, and which could involve combustion behavior and recycling as work projects.

Apart from these points of overlap, choice of topics and their organization, an important item of a different nature came up during the discussion. Professor Challis drew atten- tion to the fact that the EPF, although interested in both scientific and engineering aspects, has emphasized polymer science. The EPF has failed to make engineering colleagues aware of polymeric materials and ought to try harder to stimulate a dialogue. Eurotopics might provide a good means to this end and the inclusion of challenges to engineers would almost certainly prove to be helpful. A related prob- lem is the much needed collaboration between chemical and engineering industries although the problem of getting two chemical companies to work together is probably even more formidable. Since Eurotopics contain a great deal of basic work, it might be easier to get chemical companies to multi- sponsor this feature. However, the definition of a Eurotopic is such that industrial financial support is more likely to be obtainable at a later stage of development.

The Scientific Advisory Board of the EPF will organize mini workshops on Eurotopics in the second half of 1993 with the aim of incorporating the suggestions of the round table discussion and further developing the topics into specific and well-balanced proposals.

A h . Muter. 1993. 5. No. 5 0 VCH Verlugsgesellschufi mbH, W-6940 Weinheim, 1993 093S-9648/93/0SOS-0333 $5.00+ .2S/0 333