POLYMAT hosts Murugappan Muthukumar and Dario Cavallo for seminars on polymer crystallization

On 15 and 17 September, POLYMAT welcomed two international experts in polymer crystallization for seminars at the Joxe Mari Korta Auditorium. Both speakers were invited by Prof. Alejandro J. Müller.

Prof. Murugappan Muthukumar, Wilmer D. Barrett Distinguished Professor of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, delivered the seminar “Polymer Crystallization: New Concepts and Implications”.

Drawing on statistical mechanics, molecular modelling and experimental evidence, he revisited fundamental questions surrounding polymer crystallization, including nucleation, the selection of lamellar thickness, growth kinetics and melt memory. His presentation highlighted the crucial role played by the conformational entropy of polymer chains.

Prof. Dario Cavallo, Associate Professor at the University of Genoa, presented “Peculiar Aspects in the Crystallization of Polymorphic Thermoplastic Polyurethanes”.

His seminar explored how hard-segment content, thermal history and polymorphic competition affect crystallization in thermoplastic polyurethanes. The results also showed how self-nucleation can be used to control polymorphic selection and tailor the properties of these materials.

The two visits offered the POLYMAT research community an opportunity to discuss current challenges in the structure and crystallization of semicrystalline polymers.

We thank both speakers for sharing their research with us and Prof. Alejandro J. Müller for organising the seminars.