Top scientist Prof. Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, University Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, will join the 3TU research programme for High Tech Materials (3TU.HTM) as a distinguished visiting professor. He invented a technique that plays a decisive role in the controlled fabrication of tailor-made polymers. In a lecture on February 5 at the University of Twente, he will present this technology and its applications. The UT visit is hosted by the polymer group of his colleague Prof. Julius Vancso (MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology).
In 1995, Prof. Matyjaszewski (1950, Konstantynov, Poland) invented a new way of building polymers in a highly controlled way. Thanks to this technique called Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP), it is possible to produce polymers with very well-defined structure and properties. Before ATRP was introduced, it was quite difficult to control the ‘living process’ of polymerization. Using ATRP, de process can be stopped or restarted one molecule at a time, depending on varying temperature and other process conditions. In this way tailor-made polymers can be produced for a wide range of applications in e.g. the medical, automotive and coating/paint industries. A polymer – biological or synthetic – can now be equipped with elements that respond to stimuli from the outside: for sensors and other smart materials.
Matyjaszewski’s ATRP paper was cited over 3,000 times. He is one of the most cited chemistry scientists in the world. Prof Julius Vancso (UT, Materials Science and Technology of Polymers group) looks forward to cooperating with him: “He is a true world leader in this field of research. I expect that discussions with him will be stimulating for new directions in our designer materials research. For our PhD students it will be very motivating to have him in our lab several times a year.”
Krzsysztof Matyjaszewski received many Awards and Prizes for his work, like the Dreyfus Prize for the Chemical Sciences, the National Institute of Materials Science (Japan) Award, the AkzoNobel North American Science Award (ACS) and the French Société de Chimique Prize. He was elected Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors and of the American Chemical Society. He is, a.o., Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Several universities in the World have appointed hem Honorary Doctor, like the universities of Ghent and Athens and the Université de Pierre en Marie Curie in Paris.
Lecture
The presentation Prof Matyjaszewski wil give on Friday February 5th is titled: Nanostructured Functional Polymers by Taming Free Radicals. It takes place in the Waaier building at the UT campus, in the Van Hasselt lecture room (Waaier 3). Those who are interested to attend the presentation, can send an email to Julius Vancso’s group at MTPtnw@utwente.nl
More info about 3TU.HTM: https://www.3tu.nl/htm/en/
More info about the Matyjaszewski Polymer Group, Carnegie Mellon University: http://www.cmu.edu/maty/
The Materials Science and Technology of Polymers van prof Julius Vancso: www.mtpgroup.nl
