University-industry co-operation:
leading to successful innovation
Professor Marianne Gilbert, Institute of
Polymer Technology and Materials
Engineering, Loughborough University, UK
PVC Activities at Loughborough
PVC Innovation Centre
PVC Innovation Centre
Aims to provide the highest quality
research and development,
networking and training for the
world-wide PVC community
PVC Innovation Centre –
established November 2003
Who we are:
Prof Marianne Gilbert
Prof Brian Brooks
Dr Paul Fleming
Barry Haworth
Dr Les Holloway
Dr Dave Hitt
Stuart Patrick
Dr Noreen Thomas
PVC Innovation Centre
What we offer:
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Research and Development programmes
Consultancy services
Training resources
Networking opportunities
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
Research and Development
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Dedicated research projects
Product development
Sponsored research studentships
Joint research grant applications
MSc projects
Market research
Company strategic planning
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
Consultancy services
• Specialist advice
• Product assessment
• Equipment hire & material/product testing
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
Networking opportunities
• Network development
• Education and recruitment initiatives
• International research project awareness
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
Training Resources
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Full-time and part-time MSc programmes
External PhDs
In house dedicated training sessions
Short Courses
Conferences/seminars
Industrial placements
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
PVC Training Course- Content
• Introduction to polymer
science and technology
• Polymerisation
• Science of PVC
• PVC processing
• Manufacturers and
markets
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Role of key additives
Material characteristics
Product performance
Applications of PVC-P
and PVC-U
• Sustainability and
environmental aspects
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
Next PVC Training Course!
• Third course 5 – 9th September 2005
• Short Course or part of Materials for
Industry post graduate programme
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
Facilities
• Polymerisation reactor
• Processing, rheology and sample preparation
• Loughborough Materials characterisation
Centre
• Mechanical testing
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
New equipment
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PVC twin screw extruder
Dry blending equipment
Haake torque rheometer and extruder
Raman spectrometer
First Brazilian PVC Conference –
June 2005
The VinylSUM Research
Network
Established April 2004
Introduction
• EPSRC network for the sustainable use
of materials funded April 2004 – March
2007
• Organised by the Institute of Polymer
Technology and Materials Engineering
(PVC Innovation Centre) based at
Loughborough University
• Dr Noreen Thomas, Professor Marianne
Gilbert are Investigators with Stuart
Patrick the co-ordinator
Objectives I
• To establish a forum for an industrywide discussion of the research required
to improve the sustainable use of PVC
• To review research work already
completed and that still in progress to
find the knowledge gaps in terms of
materials processing, additives and
properties.
Objectives II
• To develop an approach for a full
evaluation of sustainability issues on a
life cycle basis, and set up a modus
operandi in which the whole industry
works together to achieve the
objectives for sustainable use which can
then be applied to other polymers
• To become a source of impartial
information to all stakeholders
Members
IPTME, Loughborough University
CES (University of Surrey)
IRC, Bradford University
Wolfson Centre, Brunel University
Biocomposites Centre, Bangor University
EVC
Hydro Polymers
British Plastics Federation
European Council of Vinyl Manufacturers
European Council for Plasticisers
and Intermediates (ECPI)
European Stabiliser Producers
Association (ESPA)
The Natural Step (TNS)
Costdown (Recycling)
Literature Review Topics I
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General PVC references, recent reviews
Additives – general
Additives – stabilisation
Additives – plasticisers
Additives – plasticiser issues
Chemical modification
Fire retardants and smoke suppressants
Life cycle assessment
Literature Review Topics II
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Nanocomposites and related topics
Polymerisation
Processing
Processing – foams
Products
Recycling and waste treatments
Resins and compounds
Sustainability
Conclusions from
literature review
Stabilisers
• There has been extensive work, with
the majority of the published literature
being Patents (primarily from German
based companies) on possible organic
based stabilisers for PVC
• A particularly interesting development
is the work carried out by Starnes on
plasticiser thiols*
*W. H. Starnes, J. Vinyl & Additive Tech. (2001)
7 250-253
Plasticisers
• Phthalate plasticiser replacements are
still attracting attention, including
benzoates, citrates, Hexamoll, and
Mesamoll
• Blending with elastomers still of
interest
• There is still very little research being
published on plasticisers from natural /
renewable resources
Methods used to reduce
plasticiser migration
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Surface modification
Nanocoats
Hybrid coatings
Polymeric plasticisers
Life Cycle Assessment
• PVC sustainability issues
• Life Cycle assessments of PVC covering overall studies,
windows, flooring, cable, pipe and use in packaging,
textiles and automotive areas, also production,
additives and end of life
• Environmental issues associated with PVC
• Recycling and waste treatment issues and methods
including re-use, mechanical and chemical recycling,
incineration and landfill
Research Projects
Improving Sustainability of PVC
through Novel Materials, Processes
and Life Cycle Methodologies
N L Thomas, M Gilbert,
B Haworth (IPTME, LU) and
A Azapagic (CES, UniS)
NANOCOMPOSITES
Life Cycle Analysis
POLYMERISATION
Non aqueous
polymerisation
INCORPORATION OF
ADDITIVES DURING
POLYMERISATION
Stabilisation
Plasticiser
migration
Flame
retardants
Processing
Sustainable Processing for Rigid PVC:
Novel Processing Routes for PostConsumer Recyclate
B Haworth (IPTME, LU) and
A L Kelly (IRC, Univ. of
Bradford)
Post-consumer
PVC-U recyclate
Recyclate Analysis
Supercritical CO2
assisted extrusion
Analysis of 2nd life products
L.C.A.
CFD Simulation
‘Near-conventional’
formulation
and slip
modification
Visit our web sites:
• www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/iptme/PVCIC
• www.vinylsum.org .uk