Designing the materials of the future

When we hear the term ‘polymer’, many of us think of plastic, the ubiquitous product that fills our shopping aisles, homes and offices. We may also think of the risk that everyday plastics have in clogging our oceans, killing our marine life and polluting our environment. So you may be surprised to learn that research into polymers is creating revolutionary new materials that can be used to improve both human and environmental health.

A polymer is a large molecule, composed of many repeated smaller molecules or monomers. Polymers can occur in nature, such as in the cellulose that constitutes paper or wood, or the DNA and proteins found in the human body. Polymers can also be synthesised into the plastics we are so familiar with, such as polystyrene. Whether natural or synthetic, polymers share a range of unique characteristics, such as durability, strength and flexibility, which can be harnessed in a variety of useful ways.

The University of Melbourne’s Polymers Lab houses more than 22 research fellows and PhD students from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering’s Polymer Science Group. Polymer Science Group leader Professor Greg Qiao said that the central focus of the group is the creation of new generation polymers, which have diverse applications in areas such as nano-medicine, carbon capture and storage, and environmental management.