If you want to develop a new polymeric material, it may be interesting to design a polymer blend or composite. Indeed, these materials offer a synergy of the properties of their components.

Composites incorporating nanoparticles (in the order of 10^-9m dimension) are increasingly being used as niche materials. With a slight addition of nanoparticles, these composites can be present exceptional properties.

Polymer blends and nanocomposites are therefore used in many areas.

At ETS, we work on applied and fundamental research linked to polymer blends and nanocomposites.

Some of the projects we are currently working on are:

- The development of innovative techniques for the dispersion of nanoparticles within thermoplastics
- The use of nanoparticles to reduce the photodegradation of polymers
- The use of blending and nanocomposite technology in the recycling of thermoplastics
- The development of nanocomposites for automotive industry
- The development of graphene-based nanocomposites
- The development of packaging for electronic components
- The development of nanocomposites based on cellulose nanofibres
- The use of rheology to characterize the morphology of polymer blends and nanocomposites

Previously, we have been extensively working on:

- Obtaining nanodielectrics
- Obtaining nanocomposites for electromagnetic shielding
- Clay-reinforced nanocomposites
- The improvement of the mechanical properties and optimizing the processing parameters of biodegradable polymers
- Polymer blends for tires
- Recycling of polymers used in laminated glass
- The determination of interfacial tension between molten polymers, which plays an important role in controlling the properties of blends