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Research Activities

 

Renewable Shape Memory Materials

Jennifer Lowe, a graduate student in the labs of professors Hillmyer & Tolman in the Department of Chemistry recently reported the use of an epoxylactone derivative of the natural product dihydrocarvone as a renewable resource derived crosslinking agent. This dihydrocarvone derivative has been used to make network copolymers with shape memory properties and tunable shape transition (or switching) temperatures. This work was recently published in Biomacromolecules.

 

Transport and Degradation Kinetics of Biobased Polymers

University of Minnesota professors Ramaswamy (Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering) and Hillmyer (Chemistry) are working together with a team at Drexel University on a project aimed at understanding water transport in polylactide. This research will help the design of new polylactide-based materials that have improved moisture barrier properties. Read more.


One monomer, two polymers

By chemical functionalization of the readily available renewable resource lactide, a new multifunctional monomer useful for toughening polylactide was discovered. Read more.

 

Green Thermoplastic Elastomers

ABA triblock copolymers containing all renewable components have been developed. These elastic materials have properties that render them competitive with traditional petroleum-derived materials. Read more.

 

Ring-Opening Polymerization of Macrocycles: A New Route to Green Polymers

A new procedure for preparing high molecular weight poly[3-hydroxypropionic acid] (P[3-HP]), a biorenewable and biodegradable plastic with attractive mechanical properties was discovered. Read more.

 

Renewable Resource Polymers for Polylactide Toughening

A new diblock copolymer useful for toughening polylactide was developed and found to be an effective blend compatibilizer. Read more.

 

 

 

Recent News & Events

Institute on the Environment awards $4.85 million to seven breakthrough projects including Sustainable Polymers: Tomorrow's Advanced Materials.

 

Recent profile of Professor  Hillmyer's research published by the Institute of Technology: Environmental Impact:30 Billion Pounds & Counting

Address: Department of Chemistry, 207 Pleasant St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455-0431 Phone: 612-625-7834 Email: hillmyer@umn.edu

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