However, it has become clear in the last decade that new materials are needed which are (a) tailored perfectly to the needs of the applications they are intended for, (b) create fundamentals for micro-sized devices, thus lowering the demand for energy and resources, and (c) are environmentally friendly, e.g., water-based. 

Recently, functional, “smart” or “intelligent” polymers, reversibly reacting to environmental stim-uli, e.g., temperature, pH, shear, light, electric or magnetic fields, have received growing impor-tance. The response (e.g., phase transitions or dimensional changes) of these polymers is provided by macromolecular self-associations which in turn are driven by non-covalent interactions, includ-ing Coulombic, hydrogen-bonding, van der Waals, and hydrophobic interactions. 
Many applications of such materials exist or are envisaged, including associative thickeners in paints and in personal care products, micellar systems for controlled drug release in medicine or for pollutant uptake in environmental applications. At present, only a very limited number of associa-tive thickeners is available for use in the paint industry and their structure is of rather low sophisti-cation. 
Generally, water-soluble polymers (WSP) are used in adsorbents, flocculants, for waste-water treatment, surfactants for heterogeneous polymerization, for sewage purification, concentration and extraction of metals, reduction of hydrodynamic resistance, as structure formers of soils, enhanced oil recovery, superabsorbency, and further applications in micro- and nanotechnology. 
Hydrogels, i.e. covalently cross-linked water-soluble polymers, may contain attractive groups, lead-ing to “smart” hydrogels which may find applications in microsensors and microactuators. How-ever, they become increasingly important, also for the biotechnology, medicine, pharmacy (con-trolled release), diagnostics and many more.
The study of the effects and mechanisms which accompany the phase transition in such stimuli sen-sitive polymers is essential for their applications. The knowledge of phase behavior (aggregations or association) prior to the phase transition and in the vicinity of the transition point (structure and shape of micelles and aggregates) enables to chose the conditions for crosslinking leading to the synthesis of the nano- and microgels. Different techniques have to be applied for this characterization.

Realization period: 01.09.2004 - 31.08.2008

Participants

1. Institute of Coal Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gliwice, Poland
Prof. Andrzej Dworak

2. Macromolecular Chemistry II, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany 
Prof. Axel Mueller

3. Institute of Macromolecular and Textile Chemistry, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
prof. Hans-Juergen Adler

4. Institute of Polymer Research, Dresden, Germany
Prof. Brigitte Voit

5. Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
prof. Christo Tsvetanov

Research topic

There is an increasing need of the society for materials, better suited for the contemporary needs: better responding to the applications, multi-aimed use, less stress to the environment. The 6th Framework Program makes the study of such “knowledge based materials” one of its priorities.

Modern macromolecular materials may be tailor-made to suit particular needs. The so-called “stimuli sensitive polymers” or “smart polymers”, e.g. polymers reacting with a strong, distinct change of properties to an external stimulus (temperature, pH, ion strength, electric or magnetic field) may serve for constructing nano- and microdevices, like sensors, actuators, devices for selective transfer and delivery and many more. 

 While the main emphasis of the project will be put on the macromolecular chemistry, the interdisciplinary approach is necessary to reach the aim, i.e. to deliver materials suitable for constructing devices. The synthetic chemists will be trained in different areas of polymer synthesis and, moreover, gain understanding of the physical characterization of the designed materials and of the needs of engineers and constructors. This aspects will be realized through the exchange of scientists, sponsored by this project.

Seminars

2006

08.03.2006
prof. Axel H. E. Müller
University of Bayreuth, Germany
"ADVANCED POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION" lecture 4:
"Imaging Methods (TEM, cryo-TEM, AFM) (2x45 min)

07.03.2006
prof. Axel H. E. Müller
University of Bayreuth, Germany
"ADVANCED POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION" lecture 3:
"Light scattering (SLS, DLS), Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS)" (2x45 min)

02.03.2006
prof. Axel H. E. Müller
University of Bayreuth, Germany
"Stimuli responsive micelles of amphiphilic and bis-hydrophilic block and graft copolymers"

01.03.2006
prof. Axel H. E. Müller
University of Bayreuth, Germany
"ADVANCED POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION" lecture 2:
"HYDRODYNAMIC METHODS (Field Flow Fractionation, Capillary Hydrodynamic Fractionation) (2x45 min)
"Mass Spectrometry (MALDI, ESI)
"Ultracentrifugation"

28.02.2006
prof. Axel H. E. Müller
University of Bayreuth, Germany
"ADVANCED POLYMER CHARACTERIZATION" lecture 1:
CHROMATOGRAPHIC METHODS (2x45 min)
part I: SEC, LAC, LACCC, 2D)
part II: (SEC + molar mass detectors, TREF, CRYSTAF)

09.02. 2006
Tilo Krause
Technical University of Dresden, Germany
"Novel starpolymers and dendrimers based on calx[4]resorcine- and calix[4]pyrogallolarenes platforms"

2005

prof. Marcel Van Beylen
University of Leuven, Belgium

Anionic Polimerisation and Living Polymers
1. Anionic polymerisation, part I (10.10.2005)
2. Anionic Polymerysation, part II (17.10.2005)
3. Living Polymerisations (24.10.2005)

24. 07. 2005
prof. Stepan Podzimek
Department of Analytical and Physical Chemistry, SYNPO,
Pardubice/Czech Republic

”Characterization of Branched Polymers by Combination of Light Scattering with SEC or FFF”

prof. Christo B. Tsvetanov
Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia

Water-soluble polymers with reversibly interacting side chains or short blocks
1. Associative polymers. Association via hydrophobic interaction (14. 07. 2005)
2. Thermoassociative polymers. Association via "low critical solution temperature" (LCST) property (14. 07. 2005)
3. Multiresponsive polymers. Association via composition of two or more environmentally sensitive polymers. (20.07.2005)

24.06.2005
prof. Stanislav Rangelov
Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia
”Dynamic Light Scattering. The Method and Some Applications”

08. 06. 2005
prof. dr hab. Karl-Friedrich Arndt
TU Dresden
“Synthesis and application of smart gels with fast response”

2004

18.10.2004
Karl-Heinz Massenkeil
University of Mainz
“Structure of polymers and their molar mass distributions”

12.10.2004
dr Philip Atanasov Dimitrov
Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
“Synthesis and Self-Association of New Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Containing Poly(ethoxyethyl glycidyl ether) or Polyglycidol”

24.09.2004
dr L.P. Yezek
Department of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science, Wageningen University, Dreijenplein, Netherlands
“Electrokinetics of Thin Films of Charged Co-polymer Gels”