Location: J-124
Phone: 3938-8268
Responsible: Prof. Marcos Lopes Dias
Website: http://www.ima.ufrj.br/laboratorios/lcprb
LCPRB develops research work involving studies on polymerization processes with organic and metallic initiators and catalysts for the production of polymers and copolymers with specific properties for packaging and biomedicine applications.
The first research line of the laboratory "Polymerization with metallic catalysts" started in 1993 and it has as main objective to investigate the preparation of catalysts for the polymerization of monomers by the coordination-insertion reaction. The research group developed works involving classic, homogeneous and heterogeneous (supported) Ziegler-Natta catalysts, metallocene and Brookhart catalysts for the polymerization of olefins. The research line also contemplates the use of organic and metallic initiators in the polymerization of cyclic monomers, such as lactides, lactones and cyclic carbonates for the production of biodegradable polymers by the ring opening reaction.
In the line of research entitled Nanostructured and biodegradable polymeric materials, processes for preparing non-biodegradable and biodegradable nanostructured polymeric materials are investigated aiming at applications in packaging, biomedicine and other applications. The laboratory has studied the production of 2D and 3D structures using the electrospinning technique, which serve as scaffolds for tissue engineering and the release of active ingredients and drugs. It has also been carried out work on the preparation of polymeric nanocomposites using 2D fillers such as graphene nanolines.
The last line of research “PET recycling” has as main objective to investigate post-consumption poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) depolymerization processes, aiming at the production of monomers and molecules of low molar mass that can be used as raw material for the chemical industry and as additives, for example, asphalt and plastics. A Work on solvolysis (glycolysis and aminolysis) has already been completed.
