The plastics and polymers industry is one of Canada's largest manufacturing sectors, accounting for approximately $30 billion in annual sales. In addition to this economic importance, polymers are also very versatile materials. Light, malleable and possessing chemical and physical properties that can be modified, polymeric materials are used in a wide variety of applications.

At ICPET, research is focused on niche areas where applications will provide the greatest market opportunities for Canadian companies. These areas include:

• Fuel cells
• Micro and opto-electronics
• Micro and nano-structured materials
• Biomedical materials and devices

Complementary research areas at ICPET are: energy materials, nanostructured materials, materials characterization and separation technology.

At ICPET, research focuses on the design, synthesis and modification of polymeric materials. Understanding the characteristics, properties and behaviour of these materials allows researchers to:

• Improve the cost / performance behaviour of polymers for various applications.
• Exploit the use of polymers in new, innovative applications.
• Ensure that the improved performance of these materials can contribute to health, safety and a sustainable environment.

Novel foaming technologies

This research investigates the interactions of compressed gases and supercritical fluids with polymers. Collaborative research is aimed at producing novel, environmentally 'clean' plastic processing technologies and involves other research institutes at NRC as well as Canadian and international partners. The microcellular and nanocellular foamed plastics that can be produced have commercial potential in applications requiring lightweight, structural materials. Such materials display excellent durability, resilience and strength on impact — while minimizing the amount of material consumed. The results are high-value end products for a variety of niche applications in the electronic, biomedical, transportation, communications and construction industries.

Biomedical applications

The commercial development of polymeric biomaterials for tissue repair represents a significant area for potential growth in medical product and supply industries. Research is being carried out in collaboration with Canada's Ottawa Eye Institute and the Ottawa General Hospital (Ottawa, Canada). The focus of this research is on the production of 'scaffolding materials'. These are specialized polymeric materials that are at the core of tissue-repair technologies. The polymers are synthesized and modified by researchers to ensure that such material provides a receptive habitat for culturing and growing cells. Characteristics of such habitats or matrices must include strength as well as the ability to control the processing and degrading of materials. Current research priorities include:

• Developing polymer matrices that allow for cell delivery as well as 'in situ' growth and cell diversification to repair articular cartilage (membrane material that permits movement of a joint).
• Developing a range of polymer-based scaffolds to allow for overgrowth and infiltration of ocular (eye) cells. Potential applications include cornea replacements and in vitro test systems for evaluating ocular responses to pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or other chemicals.

Optical and electronic response polymers

Polymeric-based materials are finding increased applications in a wide variety of electronic devices and products such as LED displays, photonic structures, fibre optics and smart switches. ICPET, in collaboration with other NRC researchers, Canadian universities and industrial partners, carries out the following research activities:

• Design, chemical synthesis and fabrication of polymer-based, light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). Several polymeric structures are being investigated. The goal is to produce materials to be used as single layer PLEDs that can be optically tuned.
• Chemical synthesis of polymeric materials for telecommunications applications such as thermo-optic switching, optical wavelength filters and connectors, beam splitters, etc. The objective of this work is to develop polymer materials with optical, thermal and processing properties that surpass silica, while helping to decrease the cost of manufacturing photonic components.

Fuel cells and gas separations

Supporting NRC's leadership in Canada's National Fuel Cell Research and Innovation Initiative, ICPET's polymeric materials group is focused on the development of low-cost proton exchange membranes (PEMs). PEMs are a key component of fuel cells; the development of low-cost, high-performance materials for cell components is critical to advancing fuel cell development for various applications. This research — carried out in collaboration with industry and universities — aims to improve polymer performance. Benefits include increased ionic conductivity, improved humidification properties, capacity for higher operating temperatures and decreased gas permeability.

Another goal of this project is to develop innovative polymers suited to highly selective, membrane-based gas separations. This will enable Canada's industrial sector to exploit advantages provided by new technologies in this area.

Polymers and the environment

ICPET has developed a strong base of expertise in polymer degradation, stabilization, volatile emissions analysis and polymeric material resource recovery. This expertise is available to Canadian companies faced with challenging environmental issues connected to food packaging, resource recovery and recycling plastic or wood waste materials.

For more information on analytical facilities and instrumentation that complement this research work, go to materials characterization.

ICPET's approach to investigating and developing new applications for polymeric materials is based on extensive experience in synthesizing polymers, characterizing polymeric materials and evaluating the performance of such materials under a wide range of operating conditions and applications. ICPET draws together research teams with comprehensive and complementary skills in developing, characterizing and applying polymers as well as energy and nanostructured materials.

Research information:

E-mail Dr. Michael Day

Business information:

E-mail Kevin Jonasson

Employment information:

For employment opportunities at NRC, please go to NRC Careers.

ICPET research publications:

Research publications on Polymeric Materials.

ICPET research partners:

A list of links to internet sites of companies, departments and organizations that work with ICPET.

Ottawa Eye Institute

Ottawa General Hospital