Research group

Polymer processing

In addition to the material development of new plastics for existing applications, current development in the field of polymer materials processing follows the use of existing materials for completely new applications or the increasingly frequent need to define the use of recycled (waste) materials for the production of existing or new products. With regard to this fact, to ensure long-term sustainability of effective progress of innovation activities in this area, it is not only appropriate to take all these aspects into account in production practice, but in accordance with modern production methods it is useful to use available software tools for suggestion of optimization of technological conditions as well as for designing the processing tools. The subject of research and development activities of the Polymer Processing group is focused on selected segments of modern processing technologies. These include mainly the preparation of fibers, nonwovens, polymeric foams and ceramics and metal-filled components with their subsequent sintering. Further the activities focus on processing of thermosetting materials and materials with reduced flammability, injection molding of multi-component products and finally the advanced 3D printing of hierarchically structured materials. Despite the fact that these processing methods differ quite significantly in their technological requirements, the unquestionable common denominator is to know the rheological behaviour of processed macromolecular systems, which is the main controlling parameter in setting and optimizing all technological production processes. The connections between material properties of inputs (thermal, rheological, mechanical and other properties), processing conditions of used technologies (temperature, pressure, flow rate, ..) and achieved parameters of final products (adhesion, mechanical, optical, barrier properties, flammability characteristics, etc.) are investigated/ observed. To achieve an optimized processing process, it is important to know the flow and viscoelastic properties of used materials (modern rotary, oscillating and high pressure capillary rheometers are used). Further the knowledge of influence of selected technological conditions on final characteristics of prepared testing and functional samples and their mutual relations is used/ applied. In the field of polymer materials processing, the group offers comprehensive solutions to research and development tasks as well as problems brought by industrial practice. It is possible to prepare trial products, testing samples, semi-finished products and other products on equipment of laboratory and pilot size. The expertise of staff and the equipment cover areas of continuous and discontinuous processes such as compounding using twin screws, blowing and extrusion of 5-layer films, multicomponent spinning and preparation of nonwovens, blowing of hollow products, thermoforming, extrusion of plastic and elastomer profiles, 1K and 2K injection, injection moulding of highly filled systems, including systems filled with abrasive fillers (PIM - Powder Injection Moulding), debinding and sintering in special ovens with controlled atmosphere, 3D printing.

Head of the group: prof. Ing. Tomáš Sedláček, Ph.D.


Development of research direction

RP/CPS/2024-28/003 - Sustainable applications of advanced polymer systems, 2024-2028

Principal Researcher: Ing. Tomáš Plachý, Ph.D.

The aim of the project is the modification and processing of polymer systems with regard to ensuring the required resulting material and useful properties when using advanced processing technologies. The objective effort will be to replace classic synthetic polymers with sustainable raw materials and materials obtained from recycling processes (e.g. waste materials and intermediate products) or renewable sources (e.g. PLA, PBAT, PBS, natural particle systems).


Implemented projects

TK05020036  Project Théta 5 - "Halogen-free safety electrical cables meeting the requirements of LOCA of the latest types of nuclear power plants and the latest requirements for fire safety according to European and national legislation (CPR EU/305/2011, EN 50575, CSN 73 0895); cooperation with PRAKAB PRAŽSKÁ KABELOVNA s.r.o.)" - 2023-2025

FW03010465  Project Trend - Technological production scrap as an innovative material source in a process of production of nonwoven textile (coopeartion with PEGAS NONWOVENS a PFN-FIC) - 2021-2024

FW06010324  Project Trend - Reduction of the carbon footprint of non-woven fabric especially for disposable hygienic and medical applications (cooperation with PFNonwovens Czech s.r.o.) - 2023-2026

IGA/CPS/2024/006 - Optimization of rheological properties of polymer systems as a tool for the development of sustainable products

GA22-33307S Development of novel 3D hierarchically structured polysaccharides and proteins porous systems - 2022-2024

NPRP13S-0127-200177 GreenHouses for Qatari Climate: Energy Saving Smart and Sustainable Phase Change Materials (Green3SPCM), 2022-2024

Completed projects

TE01020216 - The project of Competence centre “Centre of advanced polymer and composite materials” in consortium of Tomas Bata University and 5 companies, 2012 – 2019

FV20088 - “Development of novel formulations for modification of asphalt mixtures using recycled polyvinylbutyral”, 2017 – 2019

IGA/CPS/2018/006 - "Preparation and characterization of filled polymeric systems", 2018

Research outcomes

Atom transfer radical polymerization of 2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline in solution and from the surface of carbonyl iron particles toward fabrication of a cytocompatible magneto-responsive hybrid filler

CITATION DATA: Macromolecules, VOL: 56, ISS: 11, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.3c00400, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Synthesis and exfoliation of calcium organophosphonates for tailoring rheological properties of sodium alginate solutions: A path toward polysaccharide-based bioink

CITATION DATA: Biomacromolecules, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00081, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Injection-molded isotactic polypropylene colored with green transparent and opaque pigments

CITATION DATA: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, VOL: 24, ISS: 12, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24129924, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Engineering conductivity and performance in electrorheological fluids using a nanosilica grafting approach

CITATION DATA: ACS Applied Nano Materials, VOL: 6, ISS: 11, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.3c01475, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Viscoelastic response of elastohydrodynamically lubricated compliant contacts below glass-transition temperature

CITATION DATA: Polymers, VOL: 15, ISS: 11, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112528, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Influence of PMMA brushes grafted from GO on rheological properties of PMMA/SAN immiscible blend in shear and elongation flow

CITATION DATA: Polymer, VOL: 279, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2023.126015, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Three-dimensional printing process for musical instruments: Sound reflection properties of polymeric materials for enhanced acoustical performance

CITATION DATA: Polymers, VOL: 15, ISS: 9, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15092025, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Phase change materials designed from Tetra Pak waste and paraffin wax as unique thermal energy storage systems

CITATION DATA: Journal of Energy Storage, VOL: 64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.107173, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Effect of chain extending cross-linkers on the disintegration behavior of composted PBAT/PLA blown films

CITATION DATA: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, VOL: 24, ISS: 5, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054525, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Modification of polyvinyl chloride composites for radiographic detection of polyvinyl chloride retained surgical items

CITATION DATA: Polymers, VOL: 15, ISS: 3, https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030587, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Interactions between sodium hyaluronate and β-cyclodextrin as seen by transport properties

CITATION DATA: International Journal of Molecular Sciences, VOL: 24, ISS: 3, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032889, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2023

Semi-conducting microspheres formed from glucose for semi-active electric field-responsive electrorheological systems

CITATION DATA: Soft Matter, VOL: 18, ISS: 47, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sm01145j, PUBLICATION YEAR: 2022

Contacts

Head of the group: prof. Ing. Tomáš Sedláček, Ph.D.

Scientific team


Ph.D. students


  • prof. Ing. Tomáš Sedláček, Ph.D.

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  • prof. Mgr. Aleš Mráček, Ph.D.

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  • doc. Ing. Antonín Minařík, Ph.D.

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  • Ing. Přemysl Fajkus

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  • Ing. Danila Gorgol

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  • Ing. Filip Mikulka
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  • Ing. Rostislav Vilém
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  • Ing. Markéta Ilčíková, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Markéta Kadlečková, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Roman Kolařík, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Lukáš Maňas, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Pavlína Mikušová, Ph.D.

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  • Ing. Miroslav Mrlík, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Lenka Musilová, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Josef Osička, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Tomáš Plachý, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Daniel Sanétrník, Ph.D.
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  • Ing. Petr Smolka, Ph.D.
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