Excellence Initiative - Research University
ul. Gagarina 7, 87-100 Toruń
tel.: +48 56 611-43-02
fax: +48 56 611-45-26
e-mail: wydzial@chem.umk.pl

Research Group of Chemistry and Photochemistry of Polymers


RESEARCH PROFILE

The main field of specialization:

  • physicochemistry of polymers, copolymers and biopolymers

Topics of investigations:

  • polymer modification, polymer nanocomposites, biomaterials, photodegradation and photostabilization of polymers,  thermal degradation of polymers, biodegradation of polymers, mechanical properties of polymers, polymer blends and complexes, accelerated degradation of polymers, surface properties of polymers, photosensitive polymers, bioactive polymers, piezoelectric polymer composites

Current research interest:

  • application of polymers and biopolymers in medicine, pharmacy and cosmetics, ecological packaging materials, degradable polymer composites and blends, polymer surface modification, nanomechanical properties of polymers, preparation of polymer electrets for applications in microelectronics.

GROUP MEMBERS

Dr hab. Jolanta Kowalonek, prof. UMK
email: jolak@umk.pl, phone: +48(56)6114552,

Prof. dr hab. Halina Kaczmarek
email: halina@umk.pl, phone: +48(56)6114312,

Dr Dagmara Bajer
email: dagmara@umk.pl, phone: +48(56)6114505.

PhD students:
Mgr Katarzyna Węgrzynowska-Drzymalska
Mgr Natalia Stachowiak
Mgr Piotr Maćczak


PROJECTS, GRANTS

Grant of the National Science Center (OPUS 9, 2016-2020) “Influence of mineral fillers on structure and piezoelectric properties of cellular electrets based on crystalline polyolefins” within the consortium of 3 institutions: Nicolaus Copernicus University (leader), Institute of Engineering of Polymer Materials and Dyes (Toruń) and Institute of Electron Technology (Cracow).

Emerging Field project realization: “Polymer science and multifunctional polymers”, since 2020.


SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Publications and patents (2020-2021):

Surface Studies of UV irradiated Polypropylene Films Modified with Mineral Fillers Designed as Piezoelectric Materials, M. Chylińska, H. Kaczmarek, D. Moszyński, B. Królikowski, J. Kowalonek, Polymers, 2020, 12, 562.

Influence of the N-halamine additives on the mechanical properties and fire-retardancy of biocidal plastics based on poly(vinyl chloride), M. Chylińska, H. Kaczmarek, A. Burkowska-But, M. Walczak, K. Kadac, J. Macromol. Sci. A, 2020,  57 (9) 636-645.

Crosslinking of Chitosan with Dialdehyde Chitosan as a New Approach for Biomedical Applications, K. Wegrzynowska-Drzymalska, P. Grebicka, D. T. Mlynarczyk,  D. Chelminiak-Dudkiewicz, H. Kaczmarek, T. Goslinski, M. Ziegler-Borowska, Materials, 2020, 13, 3413.

N-Halamine Hydantoin-Containing Chitosan: Synthesis, Characterization, Thermal and Photolytic Stability Studies, M. Chylińska H. Kaczmarek, Molecules 2020, 25, 3728.

Recent Achievements in Polymer Bio-Based Flocculants for Water Treatment. Review. P. Maćczak, H. Kaczmarek, M. Ziegler-Borowska, Materials 2020, 13, 3951.

Cellular Polyolefin Composites as Piezoelectric Materials: Properties and Applications. E. Klimiec, H. Kaczmarek, B. Królikowski, G. Kołaszczyński, Polymers, 2020, 12, 2698.

Effect of plasticizer and surfactant on the properties of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan films, N. Stachowiak, J. Kowalonek, J. Kozłowska, Int. J. Biol. Macromol., 2020, 164, 2100-2107.

Chitosan as a Protective Matrix for the Squaraine Dye, H. Kaczmarek, P. Rybczyński, P. Maćczak, A. Smolarkiewicz-Wyczachowski, M. Ziegler-Borowska, Materials, 2021, 14, 1171.

Corona Charging of Isotactic-Polypropylene Composites. Kowalonek, J.; Kaczmarek, H.; Królikowski, B.; Klimiec, E.; Chylińska, M., Polymers , 2021, 13, 942.

Freeze-Dried Matrices Composed of Degradable Polymers with Surfactant-Loaded Microparticles Based on Pectin and Sodium Alginate, N. Stachowiak, J. Kowalonek, J. Kozlowska, Materials, 2021, 14, 3044.

Bajer, D., Janczak, K. & Bajer, K. Novel Starch/Chitosan/Aloe Vera Composites as Promising Biopackaging Materials. J Polym Environ 2020, 28, 1021–1039.

Patent 2020, PL 422119 B1, Sposób wytwarzania folii polietylenowych o właściwościach piezoelektrycznych (A method of producing polyethylene films with piezoelectric properties), B. Królikowski, H. Kaczmarek, E. Klimiec.

Patent 2021, PL 238754 B1, Sposób wytwarzania folii polietylenowej o właściwościach piezoelektrycznych (A method of producing polyethylene films with piezoelectric properties), B. Królikowski, H. Kaczmarek, E. Klimiec.