The Danish Polymer Centre 1999/2000 - DPC

etween lamellar microphase separation and true two-phase separated systems remarkably
renormalized characteristics, including a micro emulsion channel between the two phases
(Phys.Rev.Lett 82, 1756, 1999; J.Chem.Phys. 112, 5454, 2000).
A number of studies have concerned polymers for electronics applications, including structural
studies of poly-(dodecyl-bithiophene) films (Nature, 401, 685 (1999)). It has been shown that
through the film-production procedure, it is possibly to get a high degree of control on the
crystalline texture and alignment. The studies of poly-(dodecyl-bithiophene) include also the
ordering phenomena in solutions prior to film formation.
A variety of important results have been obtained in the polymer actuator project. The studies
include the possibility to base the actuator on a composite material comprising one conjugated
polymer capable of changing oxidation-state upon the onset of an electrical or chemical stimulus,
and an ion-sensitive gel capable of changing volume (applied for patent). Actuators based on a
special acrylate polymer have been proven to have excellent performance: with a length of 10 cm
and a cross-section of 5x5 mm, weighing just 4 g, such a prototype actuator were able to lift 1.5
kg more than 8 mm.
More details of the scientific activities and results are given in the Research Activity Report.
A list of publications is found at the end of the report.
The Danish Polymer Centre have been involved in the organization of conferences and
workshops, including ’Polymer Surfactants’ (Kolle-Kolle, Denmark 24-28 June 2000); and
’EPS-CMD18 Conference, Colloquium on Transient phenomena in complex systems', (Montreux,
Switzerland, March (2000)).
1.3 National and international collaboration (Academic)
National Collaboration include:
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University; CISMI Copenhagen University; University of
Aarhus; University of Aalborg; Roskilde University Centre; Other DTU and Risø Departments.
The Polymercentre has close collaboration via a joint ph.d. project with Department op
Chemistry, University of Aarhus. This project is finansed by the Polymercentre. A similar
arrangement is planned with University of Aalborg, but it awaits quallified candidates. Likewise,
the centre has joint projects with other departments at DTU and Risø, where the centre cofinanses
a ph.d. project (functional polymers) and a guest professor within biopolymer/biofiber
composites.
International collaboration include:
University of Athens, Greece; Foundation for Research and Technology, Crete, Greece; Max-
Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz, Germany; School of Chemistry, University of
Leeds, United Kingdom; Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom;
Forschungzentrum Jülich, Germany; The Dutch Polymer Institute and Eindhoven University of
Technology, The Netherlands; Leuven University, Belgium; University of Leipzig, Germany;
University of Cambridge; Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology,
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