Albert J. van Reenen Title: Associate Professor
Office: 209 Polymer Science
Phone: +27 (0)21 808-3168
Fax: +27 (0)21 808-4967
Educational Background:
PhD, University of Stellenbosch (1988)
Research Emphasis:
Polyolefins, Structure property relationships, Polymer fractionation, Polymer Characterization
Research Summary:
The polyolefin research group focuses on the study of the relationship between molecular make-up of polyolefins and macroscopic properties of both commercial and experimental polyolefins. The group is involved with the use of fractionation techniques for polyolefins and also instrumental in the development of novel characterization techniques for these materials. Collaboration with industry and other groups within te Department strengthens the total researcheffort.
Research Description:
Micromechanical analyses of polyolefins.
The relationship between material structure and material properties is well understood to be central to all material sciences, not least polymer science. In the case of polymers, the relationship between polymer morphology and polymer properties is therefore of cardinal importance. The only way that we can confidently predict polymer properties and, by extension, design polymers with specific properties is to first understand fully what the effect of molecular makeup has on polymer properties. Thereafter an understanding of how catalyst chemistry affects molecular makeup will allow for the manufacture of “tailored” polymers. The ability to fractionate and characterize polyolefins fully is the first step to understanding the relationship between the composition of the fractions and their role in the macroscopic properties of the polymer. The second step would be to selectively remove fractions and to recombine materials and then to check properties. Analyses of these materials can be done by micromechanical l techniques. This involves, inter alia, microtensile tests conducted under a transmission electron microscope, microtensile tests in a IR spectrometer, microhardness testing etc.
Fractionation and charcterization of polyolefins
Central to our research is the ability to fractionate and characterize polyolefins. Many techniques are applied according to published procedures, without fully understanding the effect of varying experimental parameters of these techniques. Some effort in our group has recently gone into the study of these fundamental issues in polymer characterization, particularly in the use of temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF).
The polyolefin research group focuses on the study of the relationship between molecular make-up of polyolefins and macroscopic properties of both commercial and experimental polyolefins. The group is involved with the use of fractionation techniques for polyolefins and also instrumental in the development of novel characterization techniques for these materials. Collaboration with industry and other groups within te Department strengthens the total researcheffort.
Research Description:
Micromechanical analyses of polyolefins.
The relationship between material structure and material properties is well understood to be central to all material sciences, not least polymer science. In the case of polymers, the relationship between polymer morphology and polymer properties is therefore of cardinal importance. The only way that we can confidently predict polymer properties and, by extension, design polymers with specific properties is to first understand fully what the effect of molecular makeup has on polymer properties. Thereafter an understanding of how catalyst chemistry affects molecular makeup will allow for the manufacture of “tailored” polymers. The ability to fractionate and characterize polyolefins fully is the first step to understanding the relationship between the composition of the fractions and their role in the macroscopic properties of the polymer. The second step would be to selectively remove fractions and to recombine materials and then to check properties. Analyses of these materials can be done by micromechanical l techniques. This involves, inter alia, microtensile tests conducted under a transmission electron microscope, microtensile tests in a IR spectrometer, microhardness testing etc.
Fractionation and charcterization of polyolefins
Central to our research is the ability to fractionate and characterize polyolefins. Many techniques are applied according to published procedures, without fully understanding the effect of varying experimental parameters of these techniques. Some effort in our group has recently gone into the study of these fundamental issues in polymer characterization, particularly in the use of temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF).
Selected Publications:
- Albert J van Reenen* and Omar Sultan. The Effect of Catalyst Isomerization on Polypropylene Properties. Z. Naturforsch. 62b (2007), 1-5.
- Gareth Harding and Albert J van Reenen*. Fractionation and Characterisation of Propylene-Ethylene Copolymers: Effect of the Comonomer on Crystallization of Poly(propylene) in the γ-phase. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 207 (2006) 1680-1690.
- HJ Assumption, JP Vermeulen, WL Jarret, JL Mathias, AJ van Reenen*. High resolution solution and solid state NMR characterization of ethylene/1-butene and ethylene/1-hexene copolymers fractionated by preparative temperature rising elution fractionation. Polymer 47 (2006) 67-74.
- Nyambeni Luruli, Valerie Grumel, Robert Brüll, Aletta du Toit, Harald Pasch, Albert J van Reenen, and Helgard G Raubenheimer. Ethylene/1-Pentene Copolymers Synthesized Using the Metaloxycarbene Complex Catalyst System [(CO)5W = C(Me)OZr(Cp)2Cl]/MAO. J Polym.Chem. Part A: Polymer Chemistry., 42 (2004), 5121-5133
- Albert J van Reenen* and Marietjie Lutz. The Development of Stereoerrors During the Homo- and Copolymerization of Propylene Using C2-Symmetric Metallocene Catalysts - A Cautionary Note. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 205 (13) (2004) 1800-1803.
- AJ van Reenen*, LJ Mathias, L Coetzee. Polymerization of olefins with bulky substituents. 1. Homo- and copolymerization of 3-(1-adamantyl)propene. Polymer 45 (2004) 799 – 804
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