Missions

Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are among the most widely produced polymers today. However, their ubiquity has generated an incredible amount of waste, which has motivated a worldwide transition toward a circular plastics economy. The most common method today for revalorizing plastic waste is mechanical recycling. However, sorting PE and PP can be challenging, and simply blending them together is often not a viable option because they are incompatible. Weak interfacial adhesion between incompatible polymers results in poor mechanical properties for the blend. Reinforcing the interface is imperative for producing recycled materials with competitive performance.

Our team has been particularly interested in exploiting supramolecular assembly, phase separation, and reactive processing to address this challenge [1,2]. In 2025, our team described a fascinating new strategy for modulating the properties of polyolefins [3]. We reported the design of a functional polymer that induces the compartmentalization of additives in a PP matrix, which ultimately dictates the crystallinity and mechanical properties of the material. The objective of this study is to leverage these concepts to design new functional additives that can dramatically improve the mechanical properties of polyolefin blends.

[1] T. Vialon, H. Sun, G. J. M. Formon, P. Galanopoulo, C. Guibert, F. Averseng, M. N. Rager, A. Percot, Y. Guillaneuf, N. J. Van Zee, R. Nicolay, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 2673.
[2] H. Sun, T. Vialon, C. Guibert, S. Casale, R. Nicolaÿ, N. J. Van Zee, ACS Appl. Polym. Mater. 2025, 7, 2123.
[3] A. Y. Delplanque, S. Casale, B. Bresson, P. Edera, C. Guibert, N. J. Van Zee, Small 2025, 21, e07875.

Activités

This interdisciplinary research project will entail organic/polymer synthesis, polymer processing (e.g., extrusion, compression/injection molding), morphological characterization (e.g., TEM, AFM, SEM, X-ray scattering), and thermomechanical characterization (e.g., peeling tests, tensile testing, calorimetry, rheology).

Compétences

The candidate should have a strong background in polymer and/or supramolecular chemistry. Knowledge of the structural, thermal, and/or mechanical characterization of polymeric materials is highly valued. We are particularly interested in candidates who are driven to tackle fundamental research problems. Excellent proficiency in English is required.

Contexte de travail

The laboratory of Chimie Moléculaire, Macromoléculaire, et Matériaux (C3M) is a CNRS mixed research unit at the ESPCI Paris – PSL, a grande école internationally recognized for its scientific excellence in training and research. The C3M lab works in close collaboration with industrial partners on research topics linked to the development of new fundamental concepts and applications.
The team of Chimie et Design Macromoléculaire (CDM) focuses on the design and study of polymer systems with innovative physicochemical and thermomechanical properties, such as recyclability, self-repair, reactivity to stimuli, and reversible adhesion. These themes aim to develop sustainable chemistry and establish a circular economy for plastics. Our work is organized around four main themes which overlap in many respects: (i) networks and formulations incorporating dynamic covalent bonds, (ii) supramolecular assemblies, (iii) macromolecular synthesis methodologies, and (iv) hierarchically structured polymers.

Contraintes et risques

No constraint or risk to declare.