Postdoc to Explore Replacements for Isocyanates in Latent Polymer Crosslinking and Functionalization

Postdoc to Explore Replacements for Isocyanates in Latent Polymer Crosslinking and Functionalization

UvA - University of Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Join us!Do you want to make a significant contribution? Are you interested in developing new, clean and efficient methods for the paint industry? In the Homogeneous Catalysis group at the University of Amsterdam we currently have a postdoc position available to explore research at the forefront of catalysis. New cutting-edge chemistry will be developed at the interface between catalysis, polymer science and photochemistry for applications in the paint industry, with the aim to improve the durability, hardness and sustainability of coatings. 

This project aims to develop new materials and catalysis which allow replacement of isocyanate based materials, which are known to be harmful but are nevertheless used in (amongst others) the coatings industry because of their unique properties. The crosslinking chemistries that will be developed should be applicabe to different binder backbones. The relatively easy modification and orthogonality with different functional groups like alcoholes and amines makes it very much compatible with (new) bio-based materials, paving the way for development of circular binder materials.

This is what you are going to do

Industrial coatings for use on e.g. cars or marine vessels require a high chemical and mechanical performance. Currently, polyurethane coatings are mostly used for this purpose, employing isocyanides as the reactive group in paint curing, but these are under legislative pressure due to their harmful nature. In this project you will develop new crosslinking functionalities employing reactive functionalities which are intrinsically non-toxic, and, at the same time, introduce a form of latency. You will explore the use of light-activated reactions for polymer crosslinking. These crosslinking reactions should form urethane- or urea-bonds without the use of unprotected isocyanides, thus leading to sustainable coatings with excellent performance.

This is what we ask of you

• A PhD degree in chemistry with a substantial experimental synthetic chemistry;
• Experience in homogeneous catalysis research;
• Applicants with additional experience in or affinity with photochemistry and/or polymer chemistry have a clear advantage;
• Ability to collaborate and adapt in an international team;
• Good communication skills in oral and written English.

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