Editors:
J. Marosi and T. Czigány
Wiley-VCH, 2006
>
Content
doi:10.1002/masy.200690117
Preface
Convergent
trends in the development of Advanced Polymer Technologies
This
issue of Macromolecular Symposia contains selected
papers presented at the 8th
International Symposium on Polymers for Advanced Technologies
(PAT 2005) held in Budapest, September 2005.
Advancement in modern polymer technologies such as photo-electronics,
pharmaceutical and biomedical fields, environmental biodegradable
systems and specific composites are increasingly interrelated.
There are several reasons for it including the challenge
of
- the rapid development in syntheses,
- more and more deep understanding of the theoretical
basis of multicomponent systems,
- increasing possibilities for simple and controllable
nanocomposite technologies and
- advancement of surface/interface engineering.
The
interdisciplinary feature of the mentioned achievements
provides unusual solutions for various technologies of
advanced polymer systems and initiate further research
activities. Thus development of an area of advanced polymer
systems is adapted to another much sooner than earlier.
The common thinking of scientists specialized in certain
segments of polymer science and technology is strongly
encouraged by conferences of interdisciplinary interest
such as PAT 2006 organized by PAT board and Budapest University
of Technology and Economics under the auspices of IUPAC,
European Polymer Federation, Society of Polymer Science
Japan, Chemical Society of Japan, Polymer and PMSE Divisions
of American Chemical Society, Budapest University of Technology
and Economics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
The
four sessions of the meeting in Budapest (1. Advanced
macromolecular syntheses, structures, 2. Advanced multi-component
systems, nanocomposites, 3. Electro-optical and other
advanced technologies and 4. Biomedical application, biodegradation)
involved more than 350 active participants from 50 countries.
There were eight plenary lectures (J. Economy, P. Hodge,
Y. Okamoto, A.R. Khokhlov, K. Matyjaszewski, E. Tsuchida,
B. Voit, J.B. Nagy), 44 invited lectures, about 120 contributed
oral presentations, and more than 150 posters.
The
general and keynote lectures provided an opportunity for
the participants to hear the most important recent advancement
in all the areas within the scope of the conference. The
keynote lecture presented by W.Kaminsky (University of
Hamburg) on ''Nanocomposites by in situ polymerization
of olefins with metallocene catalysts'' described a new
economic process for producing various types of poly(propylene)
nanocomposites. Novel way for synthesizing of color-controllable
materials was presented by Tabata (Hokkaido University).
He formed poly(phenylacetylenes) having alkoxy groups
at the para position. The change of the colour of the
resulting polymer depends on the degree of the crystallinity
and dimensions of the pseudo- hexagonal structure of the
polymers. J. Economy (University of Illinois) cited an
US intelligence report according to which by the year
2015 water, not energy or food, will become the major
resource problem in the U.S. and world. A number of new
systems for trace contaminant removal have been described
e.g. new and improved high surface area adsorbent polymer
fibers designed to remove trace contaminants to below
1 ppb (1). P. Hodge (University of Manchester) discussed
the theoretical and technological aspects of Ring-Chain
Equilibria including an introduction to Ring-Chain Equilibria,
introduction to the Entropically-driven Ring-Opening Polymerization
(ED-ROP), useful features of ED-ROPs,preparation of macrocyclic
oligomers, and possible practical applications (2). One
of the most frequently cited scientist, K. Matyjaszewski
(Carnegie Mellon University), presented recent polymer
syntheses, using ATRP (atom transfer radical polymerization)
of acrylates, methacrylates, styrenes, acrylamides, acrylonitrile
and many other vinyl monomers provides polymers with molecular
weights in a large range and with low polydispersities
(3).Development of plastic optical fiber materials (POF)was
presented by Y. Okamoto.(Polytechnic University Brooklyn)
POF has been increasingly applied to local area network.
Their elastic moduli are typically many times lower than
those of silica combined with several other advantageous
properties. An especially interesting topic was presented
by B. Voit (Leibniz Institute of Polymer research Dresden)
demonstrating the applicability of photo-and thermally
labile polymers for template formation and surface pattering
(4).
It
is not possible to cite here all the interesting topics
of the meeting but it has to be mentioned that the activity
in the field of biodegradable polymer composites (5) was
especially large as it appeared not only at the meeting
but in this issue as well.
The
last presentation and closing remarks, given by Gy Marosi
(Budapest University of Technology and Economics), focused
on the convergent trends of advanced technologies. Polymer
science and technology was divided for a long time to
several branches that developed almost independently.
This tendency has been changed recently; the gap between
the different areas is getting less and less wide. Convergent
concepts can be seen in the developments of advanced polymer
systems used as pharmaceuticals, biomaterials, polymer
composites, fire retarded polymers, membranes, conductive
polymer systems and fuel cells. Examples presented in
the talk include the use of process control for the synthesis
of reactive surfactants and polymer dispersions intercalated
with nanolayers. Such systems are advantageous both for
controlled release of drugs from solid pharmaceuticals
in .re retarded polymer systems (6,7).Raman microscopic
investigation of complex composites and pharmaceuticals,
determination of polymorph structures at the interphases
and, last but not least, the fire retardancy of biodegradable
polymers are excellent
examples of the convergency of different fields.
Valuable
poster presentations extended the success of the oral
sessions, which were presented by university members Ph.D.
students and pharmaceutical/clinical institutions.
The
rich social programs of the meeting included a concert
in the main hall of the building of Hungarian Academy
of Sciences, which was dedicated to Professor Menachem
Lewin (Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Polytechnic
University Brooklyn), the honorary chairmen of the PAT
symposium and journal, who received a ZEMPLEN award from
the Dean of Chemical Faculty of Budapest University of
Technology and Economics for his valuable contribution
to the advanced polymer technology and propagation the
results of international science.
The
sessions of PAT 2005 were worthwhile not only for devotees
of certain areas but audience of different interest attended
all of them. This issue of Macromolecular Symposia is
focusing mainly on the papers presented in the field of
synthesis, characterization and technology of modified
polymer systems. The results of this issue confirm that
the new reactive methods for modification of polymers
and interfaces mean a great advancement not only in nanocomposites
but also in other multi-component systems. Thus the polymers
for advanced technologies, that represent strongly diverse
materials, got closer to each other in Budapest and this
tendency will surely continue in Shanghai, where PAT 2007
conference will be organized.
References
1. Z. Yue, C.L. Mangun, J. Economy, Carbon 2002 , 40 (8),1181-1191.
2. A. Ben-Haida, P. Hodge, H.M. Colquhoun, Macromolecules
2005, 38, 722.
3. K. Matyjaszewski, T.P. Davis, Eds. Handbook of Radical
Polymerization; Wiley, Hoboken 2002.
4. M. Messerschmidt, L. Haußler, B. Voit, T.Krause,
W.-D. Habicher, Macromol. Symp. 2004, 210, 111-120.
5. G. Romhany, J. Karger-Kocsis, T. Czigany, Macromol.
Mater. Eng. 2003, 288(9), 699-707.
6 .I. Csontos, S. Keszei, B. Marosfoi, A. Szep, P. Anna,
Gy. Marosi, Eur.J. Pharm. Sci. 2005, 25./Supp., 75-76.
7. S. Keszei, Sz. Matko, Gy. Bertalan, P. Anna, Gy. Marosi,
A. Toth, Eur. Polym. J. 2005, 41, 697-705.
Gy.
J. Marosi and
T. Czigány