2015-7-6

Hesheng Xia

State Key Lab of Polymer Materials Engineering (SKLPME)

Polymer Research Institute

Sichuan University, China

Email: xiahs@scu.edu.cn

Cooperation on Polymer Materials and Processing with EU partners

Outline

A brief introduction on SKLPME at SCU

SKLPME cooperation with Italy partner

Joint Platform

Joint project, joint work and output

SKLPME cooperation with UK partner

Joint Platform

Joint project, joint work and output

Conclusion

Polymer Materials at SCU

The first discipline of polymer materials in China founded in 1953

The biggest polymer research base in China (~220 staff, ~ 2200 students)

State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering (SKLPME)

established at SCU in 1991

Polymer Materials and Engineering International Joint Research Center

approved by MoST in 2014.

Part I: SKLPME Cooperation with Italy Partner

SKLPME, Sichuan IPCB-CNR,Napoli

2013.11, Sichuan University-National Research Council of Italy Multifunctional Polymers and Biomaterials Research Center (MPBRC)

Co-Chairs: Prof Guangxian Li & Prof Luigi Ambrosio

http://www.mpbrc.cnr.it/

8 institutes from CNR materials department 8 colleges or institutes from SCU

1. Establish the Joint Platform

MPBRC opening ceremony by SCU president, Prof Heping Xie

and CNR president of Italy, Prof Luigi Nicolais, Chengdu, 2014

2. Joint Project, Joint Work and Output

Based on the Established Joint Platform

A MoST-supported project:

Title: Cooperation Research on Preparation Technology of

Polymer-Graphene Nanocomposites

Funding resource: Ministry of Science & Technology (MoST), China

Grant No.: 2015DFA51110

Period: 2015-2018.

Funding: 2.68 million RMB

Project leader: Professor Hesheng Xia (China side), Dr Marino Lavorgna (Italy)

Coordinators:

State Key Lab of Polymer Materials Engineering (SKLPME), Sichuan

University

Institute of Polymer, Composite, and Biomaterials, National Research

Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR)

It is expected to reach 5,000 tons in three years .

Big Problem: Application! How to sell?

It is urgent to develop GE-polymer composites.

Launch Time Company Annual Graphene Production capacity

2012 Xiamen Knano 厦门凯纳

100 tons

2013 Hebei Tanshan Jianhua (河北唐山市建华集团)

500 tons

2013 Wuxi Sixth Element (无锡第六元素)

100 tons

2013 Ningbo Moxi (宁波墨西)

300 tons

2014 Hongna New Materials (鸿纳, 东莞)

1000 tons

Total Investment: 1 billion RMB 2000 tons

Graphene Industry in China

Since 2008, graphene-rubber composites were prepared by ultrasonic latex

mixing and in-situ reduction technology. Both the graphene uniform dispersion

down to 1 nm layer thickness and graphene network can be realized.

good electrical conductivity

Lower gas permeability

high mechanical strength.

1. Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2011, 296, 590

2. J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 10464.

3. Macromol. Mater. Eng. 2013 ,298, 38

4. J Appl Polym Sci, 2013, 127, 933

5. J Appl Polym Sci, 2013, 129，2342

6. ACS Applied Interfaces and Materials,

2014,6, 2230.

7. Composites Science and Technology,

2014, 102, 74

8. Thin Solid Films, 2015; 581:80

9. Express polymer letters 2015, 9, 597

10.高分子学报，2014, 6, 715-723

11.中国发明专利 ZL2010100191018.6

Our Work: Graphene-Rubber Nanocomposites

Gaskets

Food

packaging

Stretchable

conductors Shielding devices

The segregated morphology possess a high resistance to gas swelling and penetration, compared to the uniform dispersed one

Tailoring of graphene morphology to enhance barrier properties

Cooperation & Innovation Point 1 Based on our prepared graphene-polymer composite samples, Italian team investigated the gas barrier properties for the materials and observed some interesting phenomena for the first time.

Layer-by-layer structure of a coating consisting

of GO or rGO/polymer bilayers

.

3

Polymer + GO/rGO

Antistatic

Barrier properties

Optical properties

Approaches to control of graphene morphology within the coating

1 2

5 6

9 10

Cooperation & Innovation Point 2

Using our prepared graphene oxide and novel polymer, Italian team developed an layer-by layer method to prepare nanostructured multifunctional coatings

1. S. Kaciulis, A.Mezzi, S.K.Balijepalli, M.Lavorgna, H.S. Xia, Electron spectroscopy of rubber and resin-based

composites containing 2D carbon, Thin Solid Films, 2015; 581:80.

2. N Yan, GG Buonocore, M. Lavorgna, S Kaciulis, S K Balijepalli, HS Xia, L. Ambrosio, The Role of Reduced Graphene

Oxide on Chemical, Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Natural Rubber Nanocomposites, Composites Science

and Technology, 2014, 102, 74

3. Yanhu Zhan, Marino Lavorgna, Giovanna Buonocore ，Hesheng Xia, Enhancing electrical conductivity of rubber

composites by constructing interconnected network of self-assembled graphene with latex mixing, J. Mater.

Chem., 2012, 22, 10464

4. G.Scherillo, M.Lavorgna*, G.Buonocore, H. Xia, Y. Zhan, G. Mensitieri, L. Ambrosio, Graphene-Natural Rubber

Composites: the Role of the Graphene Self-Assembled Interconnected Network on Mass Transport Properties,

ACS Applied Interfaces and Materials, 2014, 6(4):2230.

5. M. Lavorgna, V. Romeo, A. Martone, M. Zarrelli, M. Giordano, GG. Buonocore, MZ. Qu, GX. Fei, HS. Xia,

Silanization and silica enrichment of multiwalled carbon nanotubes: Synergistic effects on the thermal-mechanical

properties of epoxy nanocomposites, European Polymer Journal, 2013, 49(2), 428.

6. Y.H. Zhan, R. Patel, M. Lavorgna, F. Piscitelli, A. Khan, H.S. Xia, H. Benkreira and P. Coates, Processing of

polyurethane/carbon nanotubes composites using novel minimixer”, Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 2010, 39,

400-410

7. Y. Zhan, M.Lavorgna, G.Buonocore, G.Mensitieri, H.Xia, Graphene-natural composites: The role of the

interconnected network of graphene self-assembled with latex particles”, In: Third International Conference on

Multifunctional, Hybrid and Nanomaterials, 3-7 March 2013, Sorrento (Italy), code B.2.5.1

8. N.Yan, F.Capezzuto, GG.Buonocore, H.Xia, M.Lavorgna, L.Ambrosio, Multilayer Thin Coatings by Self-assembling of

Reduced Graphene Oxide and High Amorphous Vinyl Alcohol with Enhanced Barrier Properties, In: XIV Latin

America Symposium 2014 of Polymers, Porto de Galinhas, Brazil, October 12-16, 2014

Joint papers

RS Ruoff et al. Macromolecules 2012, 45, 6045

“Their findings illustrated the tremendous potential of graphene in natural rubber reinforcement.”

Comments from Prof Rodney S Ruoff, the first one to introduce graphene into polymer matrix, The University of Texas at Austin.

Impact

Patent Technology Transfer on Graphene-polymer nanocomposites was achieved in May, 2015

Agreement Signing Ceremony with Chengdu Chuangwei Company in May, 2015

The pilot production line for Graphene-Rubber Masterbatch is in construction

A new cooperation direction: SLS 3D printing

With Prof Luigi Ambrosio Team, CNR, Italy

Based on the mathematic models developed by CNR-IPCB team, using our

developed soft elastomer materials, SLS 3D printing for Tissue Engineering

Scaffold was achieved in SCU in March 2015.

17

Prof Maria Carrozza, the former Minister of Education, Universities, and Research of Italy paid much attention to our joint center

Meeting with Italy CNR president Prof Luigi Nicolais at Roma

MBPRC board meeting in 2014

Part II: SKLPME Cooperation with UK Partner

In 2010, Sichuan University-University of Bradford

International Polymer Micro-processing Center (IPMC).

Co-Directors: Prof Qi Wang & Prof Phil Coates

MicroPower

Facilities on micro-processing in IPMC

SKLPME, SCU Polymer IRC, UoB

AMRI core members

China side (7)

• Sichuan University, Chengdu

• Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing

• Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of

Sciences (CAS), Beijing

• Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese

Academy of Sciences (CAS), Changchun

• Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese

Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai

UK side (4)

• University of Bradford

• University of Durham

• University of Sheffield

• University of Leeds

In 2012, UK-China Advanced Materials Research Institute（amri）

Co-Chairs: Prof Guangxian Li & Prof Phil Coates

AMRI covers a lot of key

institutions from UK and

China. SCU and UoB take

the leading roles.

http://www.polyeng.com/AMRI/

2. Joint Project, Joint Work and Output

Based on the Established Joint Platform

Joint projects granted by China and UK ( in last 5 years)

No Project Name Source Funding Term

1 Talent Introducing Base for Disciplinary

Innovation of Polymer Material Science and

Engineering, Programme of Introducing

Talents of Discipline to Universities (111

program) (ongoing)

State Administration of

Foreign Experts Affairs, MoE

of China

9 m

RMB

2013-

2017

2 Biomaterials for Joint Soft Tissue Repair - Improving Health in Older Age (ongoing)

International S & T Cooperation project of MoST, China

2 m RMB 2013-2016

3 Fundamental studies on the preparation and micro-processing of polymer functional micro-devices”

Major International (Regional) Joint Research Project of NSFC，China

1.64 m RMB

2011.01-2013.12

4 Design, Preparation and Micromolding of Polymer Nanocomposites for Medical Application”

International S & T Cooperation project of MoST，China

950,000 RMB

2009.10-2012.9

5 Design and Preparation of Polymer Nanocomposites for Medical Application”

International cooperation project of Sci & Tech Department of Sichuan Province

500,000 RMB

2010.10-2012.10

Joint Projects from China Side (SCU)

Total funding: 14 million RMB Very competitive projects!

No Project Name Source Funding Term

1 Biomaterials for Joint Soft Tissue Repair - Improving Health in Older Age (ongoing)

EPSRC 200,000 GBP 2013-2016

2 Science Bridges: Bradford-China Programme for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Medical Technology（EP/G042365/1）

EPSRC/RCUK 1.25 m GBP 2009.6-2012.6

3 GLOBAL-Promoting research partnerships in Advanced Materials for Healthcare（EP/K004204/1）

EPSRC 500,000 GBP 2012.4-2013.3

4 Virtual Institute - Polymer Process Structuring (EP/F012438/1)

EPSRC 230,000 GBP 2007.10-2009.3

Joint Projects from UK side (UoB)

Total funding: 2.18 million GBP Very competitive projects!

Co-held International Conferences

Time Place Name

2008.09 Bradford The 1st VIPps China-UK Technical Meeting

2009.03 Chengdu The 2nd VIPps China-UK Technical Meeting

2011.11 Beijing The 1st Research Workshop on Advanced Materials for Healthcare

2012.04 Chengdu

The 2nd Research Workshop on Advanced Materials for Healthcare

2012.09 Bradford

The 3rd Research Workshop on Advanced Materials for Healthcare

2013.03 Chengdu RCUK Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements

‘Celebrating Collaborations’ Research Workshop

2013.11

Bradford

PPE’13 – UK China AMRI conference

2014.5 Beijing UK China AMRI conference

VIPPs UK-China Technical Meeting, Bradford , 09/2008

RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/EPSRC

Global Engagements Research Workshop，Chengdu

2013

Main Research Achievements

1. Advanced Polymer Materials

High-performance polymer materials CNT-based polymer materials (PU/CNTs, PP/CNTs)

Other system, POM/PEO, PP/PS, PP/MMT, etc

Polymer materials for healthcare

PVA-based materials (PVA/HA)

PLA-based composites (PLA/TPU, PLA/CNTs, PLA/TiO2)

Developed new approaches such as pan milling, molecular complexation to prepare advanced polymer materials

50 60 70 80 90 100 110 1201E-5

1E-4

1E-3

0.01

0.1

1

10

Ele

ctr

ical

co

nd

uc

tiv

ity

(s

/m)

Mold temperature (C)

Injection molding at different mold temperature

Annealing under 150 oC for 1 hours

Annealing under 180 oC for 1 hours

Investigated the evolution and controlling of multi-level-

structures in polymeric materials during processing

Solved the challenges for micromolding of polymer

nanocomposites, and realized the micromolding of highly filled

nanocomposites such as PVA/40% HA, PA11/80%BaTiO3, etc.

Designed the complex micro-molds, and developed plastic

micro-devices used for biomedical and electronic field.

Microparts made through mutual cooperation

2. Polymer Micro-processing

Main Research Achievements

27

In 2013, UK high-level delegation led by Mr David Willetts, the UK Minister of State

for Universities and Science visited Sichuan University

On 30 Nov 2013, Progress report of our joint center to Mr David Willetts, the UK

Minister of State for Universities and Science at Sichuan University

29

Joint patents

1. H.S. Xia, P. Coates, D.X. Li, et al, The methods to improve the

electrical conductivity for micro-molded plastic parts, WIPO,

WO2012/089998A2, 05/07/2012; UK Patent, GB1108161.9,

16/05/2011.

2. H.S. Xia, P. Coates, D.X. Li, et al, Highly Conductive

Polymer/CNTs Composite and The Micro Processing Method,

China Patent, ZL 201010611646.5, 23/01/2013.

Joint papers

1. Li Li, Leigh Mulvaney-Johnson, Ning Chen, Qi Wang, Phil Coates, Small Scale Injection Moulding of Modified Poly(vinyl alcohol), Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 2010, 39(9), 411-418

2. Guoxia Fei, Cristina Tuinea-Bobe, Dongxu Li, Guo Li, Ben Whiteside, Phil Coates, Hesheng Xia*, Electro-activated surface micropattern tuning for microinjection molded electrically conductive shape memory polyurethane composites, RSC Adv., 2013, 3, 24132–24139

3. Yanhu Zhan, Raj Patel, Marino Lavorgna, Filomena Piscitelli, Atif Khan, Hesheng Xia*, Hadj Benkreira, Phil Coates，Processing of polyurethane/Carbon Nanotubes Composites using a Novel Minimixer, Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 2010,39(9), 400-410

4. Xiaowen Zhao, Lin Ye, Phil Coates, Fin Caton-Rose, Michasel Martyn, Structure and blood compatibility of highly oriented poly(lactic acid)/thermoplastic polyurethane blends produced by solid hot stretching， Polymers for Advanced Technologies 24(9), 853–860, 2013

5. Zhengqiu Li, Xiaowen Zhao, Lin Ye, Phil Coates, Fin Caton-Rose, Michael Martyn, Structure and blood compatibility of highly oriented PLA/MWNTs composites produced by solid hot drawing, Journal of Biomaterials Applications, Published online.

6. P.D. Coates, B.R. Whiteside, M.T. Martyn, K. Norris, P. Caton-Rose, I. M.Ward, G. Thompson, Q. Yang, Y. Chen, Q. Wang, H. Xia, Structuring of Polymers and Nanocomposites by Solid Phase and Orientation and Micromoulding, The 28th International Conference of The Polymer Processing Society (PPS-28), December 11-15, 2012, Royal Cliff Beach Hotel, Pattaya, Thailand, O-07-175 , plenary presentation

7. P.D. Coates, B.R. Whiteside, M.T. Martyn, Q. Yang, Y., Chen, Q. Wang, H. Xia, Micromoulding Structuring of Polymers, Polymer Nanocomposites and Blends, Polymer Processing Society Americas Conference 2012, G09-101k, May 21-24, 2012, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, invited

8. Qi Wang, Ning Chen, Li Li, Jie Zhang, Phil Coates, Leigh Mulvaney-Johnson, Ben Whiteside, Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based composite products for drug delivery, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China: 2nd Research Workshop on Advanced Materials for Healthcare, April 19-21, 2012, Chengdu, China, invited

9. Guangxian Li, Yajiang Huang, Qi Yang, Tian Xia, Miqiu Kong, Yuan Mei, Phil Coates, Fin Caton-Rose & Mike Martyn, Regulation of Polymer Blend Morphology using Nanoparticles, PPE’13 – UK China AMRI, 26-28 November, 2013, Bradford , invited

10. Qi Wang, Ning Chen, Li Li, Jie Zhang, Phil Coates, Ben Whiteside, Leigh Mulvaney-Johnson, Poly(vinyl alcohol)-based composite products for drug delivery, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: Advanced Materials for Healthcare, September 17-22, 2012, Bradford, UK, invited

11. Qi Wang, Hesheng Xia, Jie Zhang, Li Lia, Ning Chen, Yinghong Chen, Phil Coates, Ben Whiteside, Mike Martyn, Tim Gough, The Novel Technology for Micro-Processing of Polymer Materials, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: ‘Celebrating Collaborations’, March 25-26, 2013, Shangri-la Hotel, Chengdu, China, invited

12. L Li, H Xia, J Zhang, N Chen, Y Chen, Q Wang, B R Whiteside, M T Martyn, T D Gough, P D Coates, Polymer IRC, Micro-processing of Polymer Blends and Composites , PPE’13 -UK China AMRI, 26-28 November, 2013, Bradford , invited

13. D Li, G Fei, H Xia, P D Coates, B R Whiteside, P Spencer, Carbon nanotube composites – electrical and shape memory effects , PPE’13 – UK China AMRI, 26-28 November, 2013, Bradford , invited

14. Yinghong Chen, Mike Martyn, Ben Whiteside, Qi Yang, Qi Wang, Phil Coates, The Evolution in the Structure and Performance of Polypropylene/Clay Nanocomposite under Micro Injection Moulding Conditions, Polymer Processing Engineering 11, 6~7th December, 2011, University of Bradford, Bradford, UK, oral

15. Yinghong Chen, Qi Yang, Mike Martyn, Ben Whiteside, Qi Wang, Phil Coates, Effect of Micro Moulding Condition and Mould Cavity Dimension on the Structure and Performance of Polypropylene/Clay Nanocomposite, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China: 2nd Research Workshop on Advanced Materials for Healthcare, April 19-21, 2012, Chengdu, China

16. Yinghong Chen, Qi Yang, Ben Whiteside, Mike Martyn, Qi Wang, Phil Coates, The Formation of Ordered Structures of Polymer Materials in Micro Injection Moulding Process, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: ‘Celebrating Collaborations’, March 25-26, 2013, Shangri-la Hotel, Chengdu, China, Oral

17. Ning Chen, Xiao Chen, Li Li, Qi Wang, Ben Whiteside, Leigh Mulvaney-Johnson, Phil Coates, Microinjection molding of Poly(vinyl alcohol)/ nano-hydroxyapatite composites, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: ‘Celebrating Collaborations’, March 25-26, 2013, Shangri-la Hotel, Chengdu, China, oral

18. Sachin Korde, Sudhir Pagire, Adrain Kelly, P. D. Coates, Anant Paradkar, Pan He, Shibing Bai, Yinghong Chen, Qi Wang, Pharmaceutical amorphous composite by S3M technology, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: ‘Celebrating Collaborations’, March 25-26, 2013, Shangri-la Hotel, Chengdu, China, oral

19. S.K. Pagire, S.K. Korde, B.R. Whiteside, P. D. Coates, A.R. Paradkar, Pan He, Shibing Bai, Yinghong Chen, Qi Wang, Particle Engineering of Phamaceutical Using Solid State Shear Milling (S3M) Technology, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: ‘Celebrating Collaborations’, March 25-26, 2013, Shangri-la Hotel, Chengdu, China, oral

20. Guoxia Fei, Hesheng Xia, Dongxu Li, Paul Spencer, Ben Whiteside, Phil Coates, Electrically Conductive Polyurethane/Carbon Nanotubes Composite for Medical Microdevices, RCUK Bradford Science Bridges China/ EPSRC Global Engagements Research Workshop: ‘Celebrating Collaborations’, March 25-26, 2013, Shangri-la Hotel, Chengdu, China, oral

The cooperation research between SCU and UoB is

being extended to local government and company

Meeting with the Mayor of Chengdu, Mr Honglin Ge Visit S&T park of Chengdu

Visit Chengdu New Area

Meeting with deputy director of Chengdu

New Area (left) and deputy director of S&T

Bureau of Chengdu (right0

Started from personal communications

Science Bridge

AMRI IMPC MPBRC

Conclusions

The cooperation between SCU and EU partners has experienced a very

rapid expansion from person-to-person, group-to-group, institute-to-

institute, and also from University to all over the country.

A lot of great opportunities and output have been created, and surely will

bring more opportunities for both sides

We still need more sustainable and stable financial support from EU and

Chinese Government to make the joint platforms more fruitful and

impactful to the world.

Thank you for your attention!