Polymer Science Research Programme

Principal Investigator: Prof Adriaan S Luyt
E: LuytAS@qwa.ufs.ac.za or aluyt@qu.edu.qa

The Polymer Science Research Programme concentrates on the morphologies and properties of polymer blends, composites, and nanocomposites. It has an excellently equipped laboratory for research in this field. The programme trains postgraduate students at honours, master's and doctoral levels.

Collaborators:

• Department of Materials Engineering, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Department of Biological, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Palermo, Italy
• Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, University of Belgrade, Serbia
• Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research, Dresden, Germany
• Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
• Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

Current Research Projects

Publications (2013/14)

1. SS Ochigbo, AS Luyt, JP Mofokeng, Ž Antic, MD Dramicanin, V Djokovic. Dynamic mechanical and thermal properties of the composites of thermoplastic starch and lanthanum hydroxide nanoparticles. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2013; 127:699-709.
   DOI: 10.1002/app.37859
   
   
2. A Zanotto, AS Luyt, A Spinella, E Caponetti. Improvement of interaction in and properties of PMMA-MWNT nanocomposites through microwave assisted acid treatment of MWNT. European Polymer Journal 2013; 49:61-69.
   DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2012.10.030
   
   
3. W He, M Zhuang, Y Li, AS Luyt, T Ge. In-situ polymerisation organic-inorganic hybrid materials monomer casting polyamide 6 / nanorods yttrium hydroxide. Advanced Materials Research 2013; 662: 24-27.
   DOI: 10.4028/ www.scientific.net/AMR.662.24
   
   
4. TE Motaung, AS Luyt, ML Saladino, E Caponetti. Study of morphology, mechanical properties and thermal degradation of polycarbonate-titania nanocomposites as function of crystalline phase and content of titania. Polymer Composites 2013; 34:164-172.
   DOI: 10.1002/pc.22389
   
   
5. EEM Ahmad, V Djokovic, AS Luyt. Thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of biobased poly(furfuryl alcohol)/sisal whiskers nanocomposites. Polymer Bulletin 2013; 70:1265-1276.
   DOI: 10.1007/s00289-012-0847-2
   
   
6. D Klepac, M Šcetar, M Kurek, PE Mallon, AS Luyt, K Galic, S Valic. Oxygen permeability, ESR, AFM, DSC and PALS studies of uniaxially deformed PE-LLD film. Polymer International 2013; 62:474-481.
   DOI: 10.1002/pi.4338
   
   
7. D Morselli, F Bondioli, AS Luyt, TH Mokhothu, M Messori. Preparation and characterisation of EPDM rubber modified with in situ generated silica. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2013; 128:2525-2532.
   DOI: 10.1002/app.38566
   
   
8. SS Ndlovu, AJ van Reenen, AS Luyt. LDPE-wood composites utilising degraded LDPE as compatibiliser. Composites Part A 2013; 51:80-88.
   http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2013.04.005
   
   
9. DK Bozanic, AS Luyt, L Trandafilovic, V Djokovic. Bioconjugates of glycogen and gold nanoparticles: Controlled plasmon resonance via glycogen induced nanoparticle aggregation. RSC Advances 2013; 3:8705-8713.
   DOI: 10.1039/c3ra40189h
   
   
10. TE Motaung, ML Saladino, AS Luyt, D Chillura Martino. Influence of the modification, induced by zirconia nanoparticles, on the structure and properties of polycarbonate. European Polymer Journal 2013; 49:2022-2030.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2013.04.019
    
    
11. MA Sibeko, AS Luyt. Preparation and characterisation of vinylsilane crosslinked high-density polyethylene composites filled with nano clays. Polymer Composites 2013; 34:1720-1727.
    DOI: 10.1002/pc.22575
    
    
12. I Novák, A Popelka, AS Luyt, MM Chehimi, M Špírková, I Janigová, A Kleinová, P Stopka, M Šlouf, V Vanko, I Chodák. Adhesive properties of polyester treated by cold plasma in oxygen and nitrogen atmospheres. Surface and Coatings Technology 2013; 235:407-416. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surfcoat.2013.07.057
    
    
13. TH Mokhothu, AS Luyt, M Messori. Reinforcement of EPDM rubber with in situ generated silica particles in the presence of a coupling agent via a sol-gel route. Polymer Testing 2014; 33:97-106.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2013.11.009
    
    
14. W He, YX Li, AS Luyt, TJ Ge. Manufacturing process of packaging products by orthogonal test. Applied Mechanics and Materials 2014; 469:305-308.
    DOI: 10.4028/ www.scientific.net/AMM.469.305
    
    
15. MA Sibeko, AS Luyt. Preparation and characterisation of vinylsilane crosslinked low-density polyethylene composites filled with nano clays. Polymer Bulletin 2014; 71:637-657.
    DOI: 10.1007/s00289-013-1083-0
    
    
16. TS Motsoeneng, AJ van Reenen, AS Luyt. Investigation of the crystalline phase morphology of ß-nucleated polypropylene impact copolymers. Journal of Applied Polymer Science 2014; 131:39923.
    DOI: 10.1002/app.39923
    
    
17. ME Mngomezulu, MJ John, V Jacobs, AS Luyt. Review on flammability of biofibres and biocomposites. Carbohydrate Polymers 2014; 111:149-182.
    http: //dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2014.03.071
    
    
18. L Trandafilovic, R Krsmanovic Whiffen, S Dimitrijevic-Brankovic, M Stoiljkovic, AS Luyt, V Djokovic. ZnO/Ag hybrid nanocubes in alginate biopolymer: Synthesis and properties. Chemical Engineering Journal 2014; 253:341-349.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.05.056
    
    
19. TG Mofokeng, AS Luyt, VP Pavlovic, VB Pavlovic, D Dudic, B Vlahovic, V Djokovic. Ferroelectric nanocomposites of polyvinylidene fluoride/polymethyl methacrylate blend and BaTiO3 particles: Fabrication of b-crystal polymorph rich matrix through mechanical activation of the filler. Journal of Applied Physics 2014; 115:084109.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4866694
    
    
20. I Petronijevic, K Simonovic, F Marinkovic, J Dojcilovic, AS Luyt, D Dudic. The detection of the early stages of ageing in an LDPE+graphite composite by comparison of dielectric responses induced by sinusoidal and triangular signals. eXPRESS Polymer Letters 2014; 8:733-744.
    DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2014.76
    
    
21. K Simonovic, I Petronijevic, D Kostoski, J Dojcilovic, AS Luyt, D Dudic. Effects of acid treatment at different temperatures on the surface dielectric properties of low-density polyethylene. Polymer International (published online).
    DOI: 10.1002/pi.4731
22. M Messori, K Paderni, D Morselli, F Bondioli, AS Luyt, TH Mokhothu. EPDM rubber reinforced with titania generated by non-hydrolytic sol-gel process. Polymer Engineering and Science (published online).
    DOI: 10.1002/pen.23805
    
    
23. TC Mokhena, AS Luyt. Investigation of polyethylene/sisal whiskers nanocomposites prepared under different conditions. Polymer Composites (published online).
    DOI: 10.1002/pc.22887
    
    
24. TH Mokhothu, AS Luyt, D Morselli, F Bondioli, M Messori. Influence of in situ-generated silica nanoparticles on EPDM morphology, thermal, thermomechanical, and mechanical properties. Polymer Composites (published online).
    DOI: 10.1002/pc.23002
    
    
25. TS Motsoeneng, AJ van Reenen, AS Luyt. Structure and properties of a ß-nucleated polypropylene impact copolymer. Polymer International (published online).