BPI Seminar by Dr. Michael Silverstein

TITLE

Accessing Innovative Porous Polymers through Emulsion Templating

LOCATION: CHBE #101, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z

ABOUT THE EVENT

Porous polymer can be generated through combinations of macromolecular design, self-assembly, templating, and solution-separation processes. Emulsion templating offers a considerable and versatile parameter space for the generation of innovative porous polymer systems with potential for industrial adoption. Originally, polyHIPEs (porous polymers templated within high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs)) consisted of hydrophobic polymers synthesized within water-in-oil emulsions via free radical polymerization. Now, emulsion templating encompasses a wide variety of synthesis chemistries, a wide variety of emulsions, a wide variety of macromolecular structures, and a wide variety of applications. Recent advances include shape memory, bicontinuity, stimulus-response, renewable resources, biodegradability, interpenetrating polymer networks, hydrogels, absorbents, adsorbents, tissue engineering scaffolds, controlled release, thermal energy storage, and hierarchical porosities. Going beyond porous polymers, emulsion templating can also be used to generate porous carbons, porous inorganics, and even encapsulation systems for aqueous solutions, melts of inorganic salts, and organic liquids. 

AGENDA

• Introduction by Dr. Simcha Srebnik
• Keynote Presentation by Dr. Michael Silverstein, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology
• Q&A / Discussion 

*Light lunch with coffee will be provided from 11:40am. Arrive early to grab food and mingle before the presentation begins. 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Michael S. Silverstein, Sherman-Gilbert Chair in Energy, joined the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, in 1989. He is the Chairman of the Technion's Interdisciplinary Program in Polymer Engineering, an editor of POLYMER, and an Honorary Fellow of the Israel Polymers and Plastics Society. Silverstein is presently investigating innovative emulsion-templated polymers: superabsorbents and adsorbents, monolithic encapsulation systems for storage-release, shape memory polymers, biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds, foams from renewable resources, hierarchical porosities, and polymer-based porous carbons. He co-edited the book "Porous Polymers" and has co-organized fifteen "Porous Polymers" symposia. He has received the Rich Innovation Award, the Goldberg Research Prize, the Taub Prize for Academic Excellence, and the Svante Arrhenius International Materials Science Prize. Silverstein received an Honours BASc in Engineering Science from the University of Toronto and a DSc from the Technion, working with Prof. Moshe Narkis. He conducted postdoctoral research work at Case Western Reserve University, working with Prof. Eric Baer and Prof. Anne Hiltner.