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Polymers
Special Issues
Process Analysis in Polymer Chemistry
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Process Analysis in Polymer Chemistry

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Analysis and Characterization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 December 2021)

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Andreas Kandelbauer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Process Analysis & Technology (PA&T), School of Applied Chemistry, Reutlingen University, Alteburgstrasse 150, 72762 Reutlingen, Germany
Interests: advanced materials; bio-based materials; silicon-containing polymers; composite materials; surface technology; thermoanalysis; process analytics; reaction kinetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For the production of polymeric materials and polymer composites with consistently high and defined quality, measures for process control and, in particular, analytical methods suitable for controlling and modeling the synthesis and the processing of polymers and composites are of great practical importance. Real-time analytical methods based on inline, online and atline methods, methods for process simulation and process modeling, as well as methods for process control and process management, are particularly important to monitor material processing. A number of analytical principles have been applied in this context such as ultrasound, spectroscopy (UV, Vis, IR, Raman, etc.), chromatography, dielectric and thermal analysis, to name just a few. In addition, methods of self-monitoring of polymers and composites (e.g., embedding fiber optics, dielectric elements or other responsive functionalities in composites) have become increasingly relevant to prevent premature system failure.

 Continuous process control by analytical methods is especially indispensable:

  • When using renewable raw materials as feedstocks for the production of green polymer-based materials due to the large natural variability in composition;
  • In the implementation of adaptive process control (Industry 4.0, flexible manufacturing);
  • In the control of continuous production processes such as microreactor technology in the context of process intensification;
  • When modeling and predicting property profiles under conditions of use (e.g., long-term applications);
  • In the knowledge-based design of polymer property profiles in response to variations of process conditions;
  • In the self-monitoring and self-reporting of polymers on their current state during usage;
  • When aiming at smart tooling systems.

 The aim of the Special Issue "Process Analysis in Polymer Chemistry" is to collect progress in the field of process analysis, process simulation and process control in the area of polymeric materials and polymer composites and to highlight instructive examples for the design and application of methods suitable for process analysis.

 Articles are highly welcome that cover fundamental and applied aspects of

  • Process analytical technologies;
  • Process control strategies;
  • Simulation and modeling;
  • Self-monitoring and self-reporting polymers;
  • Sensor technology;
  • Quality management;
  • Sustainable process design and process optimization;
  • Knowledge-based polymer manufacturing;
  • Smart tooling.

 in the context of synthesis, processing and usage of any kind of polymeric material (organic, inorganic, hybrid, composite, bio-polymer).

Prof. Dr. Andreas Kandelbauer
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • process analytics
  • process control
  • online analysis
  • real-time analysis
  • process modelling and simulation
  • virtual reactor
  • reaction tomography
  • in situ spectroscopy
  • PAT
  • quality by design
  • quality management
  • smart tooling
  • self-reporting & self-monitoring polymers & composites

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3158 KiB  
Article
Rational Design of Pore Parameters in Monodisperse Porous Poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) Particles Based on Response Surface Methodology
by Julia C. Steinbach, Fabio Fait, Stefanie Wagner, Alexandra Wagner, Marc Brecht, Hermann A. Mayer and Andreas Kandelbauer
Polymers 2022, 14(3), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14030382 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1822
Abstract
Monodisperse porous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co–ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) particles are widely applied in different fields, as their pore properties can be influenced and functionalization of the epoxy group is versatile. However, the adjustment of parameters which control morphology and pore properties such as [...] Read more.
Monodisperse porous poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co–ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) particles are widely applied in different fields, as their pore properties can be influenced and functionalization of the epoxy group is versatile. However, the adjustment of parameters which control morphology and pore properties such as pore volume, pore size and specific surface area is scarcely available. In this work, the effects of the process factors monomer:porogen ratio, GMA:EDMA ratio and composition of the porogen mixture on the response variables pore volume, pore size and specific surface area are investigated using a face centered central composite design. Non-linear effects of the process factors and second order interaction effects between them were identified. Despite the complex interplay of the process factors, targeted control of the pore properties was possible. For each response a response surface model was derived with high predictive power (all R2predicted > 0.85). All models were tested by four external validation experiments and their validity and predictive power was demonstrated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Analysis in Polymer Chemistry)
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19 pages, 4941 KiB  
Article
Prediction of Residual Curing Capacity of Melamine-Formaldehyde Resins at an Early Stage of Synthesis by In-Line FTIR Spectroscopy
by Regina Seidl, Stephanie Weiss, Rudolf W. Kessler, Waltraud Kessler, Edith M. Zikulnig-Rusch and Andreas Kandelbauer
Polymers 2021, 13(15), 2541; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13152541 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3185
Abstract
Melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resins are widely used as surface finishes for engineered wood-based panels in decorative laminates. Since no additional glue is applied in lamination, the overall residual curing capacity of MF resins is of great technological importance. Residual curing capacity is measured by [...] Read more.
Melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resins are widely used as surface finishes for engineered wood-based panels in decorative laminates. Since no additional glue is applied in lamination, the overall residual curing capacity of MF resins is of great technological importance. Residual curing capacity is measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) as the exothermic curing enthalpy integral of the liquid resin. After resin synthesis is completed, the resulting pre-polymer has a defined chemical structure with a corresponding residual curing capacity. Predicting the residual curing capacity of a resin batch already at an early stage during synthesis would enable corrective measures to be taken by making adjustments while synthesis is still in progress. Thereby, discarding faulty batches could be avoided. Here, by using a batch modelling approach, it is demonstrated how quantitative predictions of MF residual curing capacity can be derived from inline Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectra recorded during resin synthesis using partial least squares regression. Not only is there a strong correlation (R2 = 0.89) between the infrared spectra measured at the end of MF resin synthesis and the residual curing capacity. The inline reaction spectra obtained already at the point of complete dissolution of melamine upon methylolation during the initial stage of resin synthesis are also well suited for predicting final curing performance of the resin. Based on these IR spectra, a valid regression model (R2 = 0.85) can be established using information obtained at a very early stage of MF resin synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Analysis in Polymer Chemistry)
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19 pages, 4424 KiB  
Article
Cure Kinetics Modeling of a High Glass Transition Temperature Epoxy Molding Compound (EMC) Based on Inline Dielectric Analysis
by Erick Franieck, Martin Fleischmann, Ole Hölck, Larysa Kutuzova and Andreas Kandelbauer
Polymers 2021, 13(11), 1734; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13111734 - 26 May 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5164
Abstract
We report on the cure characterization, based on inline monitoring of the dielectric parameters, of a commercially available epoxy phenol resin molding compound with a high glass transition temperature (>195 °C), which is suitable for the direct packaging of electronic components. The resin [...] Read more.
We report on the cure characterization, based on inline monitoring of the dielectric parameters, of a commercially available epoxy phenol resin molding compound with a high glass transition temperature (>195 °C), which is suitable for the direct packaging of electronic components. The resin was cured under isothermal temperatures close to general process conditions (165–185 °C). The material conversion was determined by measuring the ion viscosity. The change of the ion viscosity as a function of time and temperature was used to characterize the cross-linking behavior, following two separate approaches (model based and isoconversional). The determined kinetic parameters are in good agreement with those reported in the literature for EMCs and lead to accurate cure predictions under process-near conditions. Furthermore, the kinetic models based on dielectric analysis (DEA) were compared with standard offline differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) models, which were based on dynamic measurements. Many of the determined kinetic parameters had similar values for the different approaches. Major deviations were found for the parameters linked to the end of the reaction where vitrification phenomena occur under process-related conditions. The glass transition temperature of the inline molded parts was determined via thermomechanical analysis (TMA) to confirm the vitrification effect. The similarities and differences between the resulting kinetics models of the two different measurement techniques are presented and it is shown how dielectric analysis can be of high relevance for the characterization of the curing reaction under conditions close to series production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Process Analysis in Polymer Chemistry)
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