AMIPP at Rutgers

The AMIPP Advanced Polymer Center is a group of collaborative researchers and stakeholders dedicated to exploring immiscible polymer blends and the novel structures and materials obtained by processing such blends. Founded in 2002 as a Research Excellence Center by the State of New Jersey and Rutgers University, the Center depends on an interactive relationship with industry, government, and other universities to generate a steady stream new technologies, materials, and products in an environment focused on research, development, and commercialization.

Introduction

Located in the school of engineering on the Rutgers University Busch Campus, the AMIPP Center is affiliated with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering [MSE] and maintains research laboratories and administrative offices in three buildings at the Materials Complex.

The mission of the AMIPP Center is to explore new materials and structures that can be made by processing immiscible polymers, often in combination with other materials such as ceramics and metals. The thrust of our research recognizes that exceptional properties can be achieved in multi-component immiscible polymer blends without compatibilizers when properly processed. Several fundamental mechanisms assist in generating such properties. Mechanical grafting, the intimate mechanical linking and clamping of intimately processed immiscible phases, induces additive property relationships similar to alloying. Phase and molecular orientation generated in the fluidic processing environment assist in generating synergistic property relationships. The extensive interfacial network generated by the near-nanosize morphologies is a key resource for physical, mechanical, and chemical engineering of the composite properties. Functional nanoparticles provide additional performance and synergy with the polymer and interfacial network.

Research in the AMIPP Center is directed towards structural materials, functional materials, and nanocomposites. Key application areas include structural materials for regional and national infrastructure redevelopment, structural and functional materials for industrial and commercial applications, biomaterials, and national defense.