Polymer Technology in the Service of Society

As we look at our surroundings, polymer materials are ubiquitous. They play integral roles in the fabrication of advanced technologies, they enable new and exciting products, and they will be critical to the development and implementation of new products. Historically, fundamental studies in polymer science and engineering have fueled the design of advanced lithographic materials that are critical to the fabrication of state-of-the-art semiconductor devices. They have been implemented in implantable drug delivery systems and are the basis for tissue engineering programs where cells are combined with biomaterials to grow new tissues. Research in polymer blends has allowed the development of engineering plastics leading to the use of such systems in about 1/3 of all plastics used today. Equally critical is polymer processing that transforms these materials into usable products. Polymer technologies are and will continue to be needed in addressing all of the challenges we face today, namely, security, energy, the environment, sustainability, and health.
Looking just at the issue of the environment and sustainability, research has led to the use of plants to synthesize monomers that can then be polymerized into materials for applications such as textiles, eliminating the use of toxic materials. Polymer researchers are also exploring the use of macromolecules to aid in environmental remediation as well as clean up and polymers constructed through supramolecular chemistry may provide for easy biodegradability.
Bio-compatibility makes polymers important in health related fields. Bio-medical devices and treatments can also benefit tremendously from advances in polymer science. Macromolecules through tailored size and chemical functionality can deliver into cells small molecules, that would be otherwise rejected and can be used to create environments to promote cell growth and proliferation.
The vast field of energy also relies on polymer-based technologies. As we explore alternate energy sources, polymer based photovoltaics are likely to play an increasingly significant role. Questions as to how molecular level structures play a role in defining performance need to be answered. For example, as a grand challenge, “Can we reliably combine the flexibility inherent in polymer-based systems with high efficiency?” Polymers are also important for battery and fuel cell applications. Improved membrane materials are required to enhance the performance of both of these energy technologies.
Conducting and semiconducting polymers have been shown to be responsive to a wide variety of external stimuli making them interesting building blocks for sensor applications. The ability to precisely to tune electronic properties allows macromolecules to significantly impact the fields of optics, optical communications, and optical computing. Of interest too for such applications are hydrogels and many other polymer platforms. Exceptionally highly impact resistant materials are also needed for our safety and security, and research in hybrid polymer/inorganic materials is likely to lead to materials with significantly enhanced performance in comparison to Kevlar®.
There is a wealth of opportunity to develop polymer-based technologies that have their grounding in fundamental investigations. This is truly an area where research drives the technology forward, but equally importantly, technology needs, drive research. At the heart of this will be the education of the next generation of researchers capable of addressing these challenges with the innovative spirit and global leadership needed to maintain our competitive advantage. Through this workshop, we will explore expected technology drivers and how those drivers will fuel polymer research efforts into the next decade.