Polymer Chemistry

Organization
The Polymer Group was formed in the late fifties by the late professor dr.phil. John Ugelstad, and has for several decades been internationally recognized. The research and teaching activities include polymer chemistry, polymer colloids and surface and colloid chemistry. The group comprises personnel from the university (NTNU, former NTH) and the independent research organization SINTEF, and benefits from a close cooperation with the latter through a common participation in research and teaching as well as sharing laboratories and equipment. About 10 - 15 students graduate (M.Sc.) every year. The Polymer Group is heavily engaged in research and development for the Norwegian chemical industry and is also employed by foreign companies. Research at the interface with medicine is carried out in cooperation with research centers and hospitals inside and outside the country.

Personnel and facilities
At present the group comprises about 20 people, thereof 2 full-time professors and 1 part time professor, 7 research scientists, 5 technicians, 6 Ph.D students and 2 Post Docs. The laboratories and equipment include several different lab.scale reactors and reaction calorimeters for pressures up to 100 bars. Analysis and characterization methods include FT-IR, AFM, TGA, DSC, GPC, NMR, SEM, ?-counter, particle counters.

Research and development
Research activities and development work in the Polymer Group are concentrated on polymerization proce sses, polymer colloids and particle technology including the specialty mono-sized polymer particles. A relatively new activity is kinetic studies of olefin polymerization which is a part of a large university program in the field of polyolefin technology going on at different departments of the university.

Some recent publications
J.Ugelstad, A.Berge, T.Ellingsen, T.N.Nilsen, P.C.Moerk, P.Stenstad, E.Hornes and A.Olsvik. "Preparation and Application of New Monosized Particles".
Progress in Polymer Science, 17 (1), 87-161 (1992).

P.C.Moerk, J.Ugelstad and J.O.Aasen, "Compartmentalized Polymerization by Oil-Soluble Initiators. Calculation of Average Number of Radicals per Particles."
Polym.Sci.,Part A: Polym.Chem., 33, 1759-65 (1995).

J.Ugelstad, P.Stenstad, L.Kilaas, W.S.Prestvik, A.Rian, K.Nustad & A.Berge, "Biochemical and Biomedical Application of Monodisperse Polymer Particles".
Makromol.Chem.,Macromol.Symp.,101, 491-500 (1996).

J.Ugelstad, R.Schmid, A.Berge, O.Aune, J.Bjoergum, L.Kilaas, P.Stenstad, A.Skjeltorp, T.Lindmo & L.Korsnes, "Monodisperse Particles (Nonmagnetic and Magnetic)."
Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia, ed.J.C.Salamone, 6, 4501-4519 (1996).

P.C.Moerk, B.Saethre & J.Ugelstad, "Minisuspension Polymerization of PVC".
Polymeric Materials Encyclopedia, ed.J.C.Salamone, 11, 8559-8566 (1996).

B.E.Christensen, M.H.Myhr, O.Aune, S.Hagen, A.Berge & J.Ugelstad, "Macroporous, Monodisperse Particles and Their Application in Aqueous Size Exclusion Chromatography of High Molecular Weight Polysaccharides."
Carbohydr.Polym., 29, 217-223 (1996).

J.Ugelstad, P.C.Moerk & A.Berge, "Vinyl Chloride Polymerization." in:
Emulsion Polymerization and Emulsion Polymers, eds. P.A.Lowell& M.S.El-Asser, Chpt. 17, pp.589-618 J.Wiley&Sons, New York 1997.

W.S.Prestvik, A.Berge, P.C.Moerk, P.M.Stenstad and J.Ugelstad, "Preparation and Application of Monosiz ed Magnetic Particles in Selective Cell Separation." in:
Scientificand Clinical Applications of Magnetic Carriers. eds. Hafeli et al., Chpt.2, pp.11-35, Plenum Press, New York 1997.

J.A.Stoevneng, E.Rytter, "Influence of Rotation Between Agostic Structures on Ethene Interaction with a Zirconocene Polymerization Site."
J.Organomet.Chem.,519, 277-280 (1996).

T.S.Wester, M.Ystenes, "Kinetic Studies of the Injection of Comonomers During Polymerization of Ethene and Propene with MgCl2 -supported Ziegler-Natta Catalysts."
Macromol.Chem.Phys., 198, 1623-1648 (1997).

K.Thorshaug. E.Rytter, M.Ystenes, "Pressure Effects on Termination Mechanisms During Ethene Polymerization Catalyzed by Dicyclopentadienylzirconiumdichloride / Methylaluminoxane".
Macromol.Rapid.Commun., 18, 715-722 (1997).

Editor: Head of Department, Contact address: kikpwww@chembio.ntnu.no, Updated: 20.09.2000