LPRE: Preface

Preface

This web site provides an overview of the current research activities of the Laboratory of Polymer Reaction Engineering (LPRE). The LPRE was established in 1985 within the Department of Chemical Engineering of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUT). The Laboratory is also associated with the Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute (CPERI) a non-profit, research organization. The Laboratory's research activities fall into the following general areas:

Design, optimization and computer control of polymerization reactors (CAD/CAM)

Mathematical modeling and experimental investigation of polymer production processes

Hardware and software sensors for on-line polymer quality monitoring

Molecular, physical and morphological characterization of polymers

Theoretical and experimental investigation of macro- and microencapsulation techniques

Synthesis of water-soluble polymers: structure-function relationships

Production of porous and non-porous polymer microparticles

Synthesis and transport properties of polymer membranes and films

The Laboratory is equipped with experimental facilities (i.e., several high-pressure bench scale reactors) for the production of polymers and analytical equipment (i.e., GPC, DSC/TGA, GC, FTIR, Laser Diffraction Particle Size Analyser, X-Rays, Mercury Porosimeter, UV spectrometer, etc.) for their characterization. It has an up-to-date computer network which includes two Silicon Graphics workstations (Indigo R10000 and Indy R4600), as well as over sixty Pentium-based personal computers.

Presently the Laboratory employs five doctoral research associates, thirteen Ph.D. candidates, seven research associates and four technicians. Its present annual budget is about US$ 500,000.

The main objective of the Laboratory of Polymer Reaction Engineering (LPRE) is to carry out innovative, collaborative research work, the results of which can be applied to the long-term needs of the Greek and European Polymer Industries with a special emphasis given in the area of polymer reaction design, optimization and control.

Professor C. Kiparissides
Director of the Laboratory