Cycle/Years
39th cycle [2023-2026]
Contacts
Supervisors
Prof. Valter Castelvetro and Prof. Camillo Cardelli
Title of the PhD project
Study on the plasticization, blending, and compounding processes of homo- and copolymers of vinyl chloride as innovative, fire-resistant, and eco-friendly materials for cables and construction
Abstract of the PhD projectThe aim of the project is to study polymer-low molecular weight compound (=plasticizer) interactions for systems of chlorinated polymers combined with plasticizers of fossil or vegetable origin.
The chemical interactions will be studied using FT-IR and correlated with basic physicochemical properties such as Tg, heat capacity, rheological behavior, and dynamic-mechanical properties. The study of relaxations via frequency and temperature dielectrometry will also provide useful information on the molecular mobility of interacting polar groups. The thermodynamic stability of binary polymer+plasticizer systems and ternary polymer+plasticizer 1+plasticizer 2 systems will be studied to highlight and quantify phenomena of incompatibility and migration.
The main experimental activities planned can be summarized as follows (non-exhaustive list):
- Preparation of polymer+plasticizer mixtures in the Brabender and study of the plastification curve.
- Characterization of mixtures and base polymers through spectroscopic (FT-IR), thermal (DSC), dynamic-mechanical (DMTA), dielectric, morphological (SEM), and rheological (capillary rheology, frequency parallel plate rheology) analyses.
- Technological-applicative characterizations such as hardness, tensile and flexural mechanical properties, cold flexibility, softening point, accelerated aging studies at elevated temperature, flame retardancy properties, and density+combustion fume toxicity.
