Skip to main content

This job has expired

PhD in organic and macromolecular chemistry

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
France
Closing date
Jul 31, 2017

View more

Job Details

Thesis subject:
“Bio-based recyclable, reshapable and repairable (3R) fibre-reinforced EpOXY composites ”
 
Context:
Fibre reinforced thermoset composites (FRTCs) are attractive materials for high demanding sectors, such as automotive or construction, due to their lightweight and excellent mechanical properties. However, the lack of reprocessability and difficulty for repairing and recycling significantly increases the overall material cost and causes grave environmental concerns. Additionally, the vast majority of polymer matrices and fibres used in their manufacturing are non-renewable fossil-derived materials or require high amounts of energy for their production. Aiming at addressing those limitations by involving the European bio-based industry, ECOXY will develop innovative bio-based epoxy resins and fibre reinforcements to produce new sustainable and techno-economically competitive FRTCs by targeting advanced functionalities: reparability, reprocessability and recyclability (3R). The 3R functionalities will be achieved by using new resin formulations replacing commonly used curing agents by dynamic hardeners, which under certain operational makes possible to: 1) repair fibre/matrix delamination and matrix microcracks, 2) reprocess cured laminates could be reprocessed to create new 3D parts (impossible with traditional FRTCs), 3) mechanical and chemical recycling. Thus, ECOXY will develop: 1) tailor-made bio-based epoxy monomers (including biorefinery products), 2) upgraded and functional bio-based fibres (natural and PLA), 3) specific formulations for FRTCs manufacturing processes and 4) additional functionalities such as flame-retardancy for 3R resin and self healing for fibres.
The selected prototypes will be validated for automotive and construction sectors using relevant standards and applicable certifications.
 
PhD project summary:
The goals of this subject focus on synthesis of new monomers, polymers, resins as well as composites based on new platform chemicals provided by biorefineries or other side-stream derivatives. A major part of this PhD work will be focussed on the optimization of epoxy monomers and polymers synthesis. The work will concentrate on the second part in the design and synthesis of recyclable and autorepairable networks. These developments will be supported by structural and physico chemical characterization of the novel molecules and materials.
 
We are looking for:
An (organic) chemist with strong knowledge of polymer chemistry as well as chemical analysis. The candidate should be motivated and self-driven to work in a dynamic European project environment. The candidate should be computer literate, with very good oral and written English language skills. This work, with a substantial experimental part, will offer the opportunity to master aspects of collaboration with different partners through the ECOXY project. Various physical and chemical characterization tools for organic and polymer chemistry will be used (GC-MS, NMR, FT-IR, UV, DSC, TGA).
Therefore, it will involve multiple interactions with chemists to deal with synthesis, reaction mechanism, catalysis, evolution of molar mass, polymerization, viscosity and degradation studies.

Hosting team :
Université Nice Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, ICN, UMR 7272, 06100 Nice, France
Assoc Prof. Alice MIJA Alice.MIJA@unice.fr
 

Company

Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

Company info
Website

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert