One of the strategies to combat the spread of infectious diseases is the use of antimicrobial polymers in the manufacture of various products. In addition, with the rapid depletion of fossil resources, there is a growing need to find new ways to use renewable raw materials for the production of various products and to train specialists in this field. Optical 3D printing stands out from other manufacturing methods in terms of speed, accuracy, flexibility and variety of materials. Currently, commercial 3D optical printing resins are composed only of synthetic environmentally stable materials, and the use of materials derived from renewable raw materials and antimicrobial materials in this technology is still poorly studied. This project will develop the student’s ability to conduct research, development and research of antimicrobial polymers from natural materials, the products of which can be formed by optical 3D printing. During the project, the student will acquire new competencies in the field of synthesis, structure and properties of antimicrobial polymers derived from renewable raw materials, deepen instrumental analysis skills, learn to analyze, evaluate, describe and present the obtained research results.
Project funding:
Project is funded by EU Structural Funds according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments priority “Development of scientific competence of researchers, other researchers, students through practical scientific activities” under Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712.
Project results:
The student has acquired new competencies and abilities to perform analysis of scientific literature and experimental research: learned to study the polymerization kinetics of photopolymerizable reaction mixtures, characterize the obtained polymers, study the rheological, mechanical, thermal, antimicrobial properties and swelling of the obtained polymers, analyze, evaluate, describe and present.
Period of project implementation: 2020-11-03 - 2021-04-30
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
